High dose intravenous steroid therapy for severe posterior segment uveitis in Behçet's disease.

AIM To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of high dose intravenous steroid therapy (HDIST) in Behçet's disease patients with severe posterior segment uveitis attacks. METHODS Five patients with ocular Behçet's disease were treated with HDIST for severe posterior segment attacks. Two patients had vasculitis, one patient had papillitis, and the other two had retinitis; four patients also had accompanying severe vitritis. The visual acuities and improvement in ocular signs after HDIST were evaluated. RESULTS During HDIST, patients had no systemic complications caused by treatment. All patients responded to HDIST with evidence of a decrease in intraocular inflammatory activity and improved visual acuities within a mean time of 7 (1-15) days of commencing treatment. During follow up three out of five patients had new posterior segment attacks. CONCLUSION HDIST is effective in controlling severe, vision threatening acute posterior segment Behçet's uveitis attacks and in improving visual function in a short period of time