Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Rheumatology, cilt.65, sa.2, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Objectives: Beneficial results have been reported among patients with familial Mediterranean fever who switched from coated colchicine to compressed colchicine preparations due to inefficacy or intolerance. In this study, we aimed to assess whether this approach is also beneficial in patients with Behçet’s syndrome (BS) with mucocutaneous and/or joint involvement who had an inadequate response to or were intolerant of coated colchicine preparations. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of BS patients who switched to compressed colchicine preparation between 2017 and 2023. Endpoints were disease activity assessed by Behçet’s Disease Current Activity Index (BDCAI), patients’ and physicians’ global perception of disease activity on a 10cm visual analogue scale (VAS), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Results: Among the 45 patients [29 women (64.4%), mean age: 39.4 (14.4)], the reason for switch was inadequate response in 33 patients and adverse events in 12. Overall, 30 patients (65.2%) were still on the compressed colchicine preparation during a mean follow-up of 32.2 (27) months. Seven patients had discontinued the drug due to adverse events, and 6 patients due to inefficacy. Patients’ global VAS scores [5.8 (2.3) vs 3.7 (3.3); P=0.008] and physicians’ global VAS scores [4.2 (2.1) vs 2.3 (2.7); P=0.003] were significantly improved at the final visit, and CRP levels [7.2 (10.4) vs 3.6 (5.2); P=0.039] and mean BDCAI scores [2.6 (1.10) vs 2.04 (1.24); P=0.006] significantly decreased compared with baseline. Conclusion: Switching between colchicine preparations seems to be a safe and effective option for BS patients, providing good drug survival rates, patient and physician global scores, and activity scores.