OBJECTIVE To investigate the long-term efficacy and safety of low-dose and dose-escalating therapy of interferon alfa-2a in the treatment of Behçet uveitis. METHODS This study included 37 patients with refractory Behçet panuveitis unresponsive to conventional immunosuppressive therapy. Induction interferon alfa-2a therapy was given as a daily dose of 3.0 million IU (MIU) subcutaneously for 14...

BACKGROUND Blood eosinophil counts have been documented as a good biomarker for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy. However, the effectiveness and safety of prescribing high or medium dose of ICS for patients with different eosinophil counts are unknown. METHODS A post hoc analysis of a previous prospective randomized study wa...

background: there is an increase in the worldwide prevalence, morbidity and mortality of asthma. therefore, study of the possible factors related to the burden of this disorder could help the health providers to introduce effective initiatives and reduce adverse consequences due to this condition. this study was designed to investigate any relationship between asthma morbidity with inhaler tech...

in chronic granulomatous disease (cgd) patients, esophageal stricture is a rare complication and the treatment of choice is still controversial. there are few reports of successful therapy with antibiotics, corticosteroids, multiple balloon dilatations or their combination. we report a 3-three-year-old iranian boy with recurrent esophageal obstruction due to cgd. the patient transiently respond...

despite the role of oral corticosteroids in management of sever asthma, use of these drugs needs careful awareness of its many side effects. there are controversies about the role of methotrexate in lowering the need for corticosteroides in these patients. in this study an attempt has been made to determine methotrexate effects in corticosteroid dependent asthma. six patients were entered in a ...

ulcerative colitis is a mucosal-inflammatory disease that usually involves the rectum and extends proximally to involve all or part of the colon. medications for treatment include anti-inflammatory agents such as 5-asa compounds, systemic and topical corticosteroids and immunomodulators. a 33 year-old female and 52 year-old male both diagnosed with severe active ulcerative colitis who were resi...

BACKGROUND AND AIM The immunosuppressive properties of 6-mercaptopurine and its parent compound azathioprine are mediated by their intracellular metabolism into active 6-thioguanine (6-TG) metabolites. Measurement of erythrocyte 6-TG metabolite levels has been proposed as a useful clinical tool for assessing treatment efficacy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). AIM The purpose...