Rituximab for Behçet's

While I think that (pasterized) milk, dairy and eggs are causing Behçet's, it is interesting to see that Rituximab seems to be helping Behçet's patients.

Rituximab in intractable ocular lesions of Behcet's disease; randomized single-blind control study (pilot study).

Davatchi F, Shams H, Rezaipoor M, Sadeghi-Abdollahi B, Shahram F, Nadji A, Chams-Davatchi C, Akhlaghi M, Faezi T, Naderi N.
Source

Behcet's Unit, Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

BACKGROUND:
Ocular lesions, the main morbidity of Behcet's disease (BD), are the most difficult to treat. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of rituximab.

METHODS:
Inclusion criteria were retinal vasculitis and edema, resistant to cytotoxic drugs. Twenty patients were randomized to a rituximab group (RG) or cytotoxic combination therapy group (CCTG). Rituximab was given in two 1000-mg courses (15-day interval). Subjects received methotrexate (15 mg/weekly) with prednisolone (0.5 mg/kg per day). The CCTG received pulse cyclophosphamide (1000 mg/monthly), azathioprine (2-3 mg/kg per day) and prednisolone (0.5 mg/kg per day). The primary endpoint was the overall state of patients' eyes and the Total Adjusted Disease Activity Index (TADAI). Secondary endpoints were: visual acuity (VA), posterior uveitis (PU), and retinal vasculitis (RV). The baseline data were compared at 6 months by paired sample t-test and analysis of variance.

RESULTS:
TADAI improved significantly in the RG (t = 3.340, P = 0.009), but not in the CCTG (t = 2.241, P = 0.052). For secondary endpoints (RG/CCTG), the mean VA improved in two patients versus three (2/3), remained unchanged in 1/1, and worsened in 7/6 patients. The mean PU improved significantly in the RG (t = 3.943, P = 0.001), not in the CCTG (t = 2.371, P = 0.028). RV improved, but not statistically (t = 2.027, P = 0.057 vs. t = 1.045, P = 0.31). Edema of retina, disc and macula improved significantly in both, but much better for the RG (t = 2.781, P = 0.012 vs. t = 2.707, P = 0.014).

CONCLUSION:
Rituximab was efficient in severe ocular manifestations of BD, TADAI improved significantly after 6 months with rituximab, but not with CCT.

And one more study:

Treatment of retinal vasculitis in Behçet's disease with rituximab.

Sadreddini S, Noshad H, Molaeefard M, Noshad R.

Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Golgasht St., Tabriz, Iran.

Abstract

Behçet's disease (BD) is more common in eastern than western countries. Physicians have frequently encountered problems in its treatment, especially eye involvement. Recurrent oral and genital aphthous ulcerations are the hallmarks of Behçet's disease but other organs can be involved and ocular disease is one of the most disabling manifestations. Up to now, there are some problems in treatment of the retinal vasculitis due to Behçet's disease. We reported one patient, with visual loss due to retinal vasculitis that was resistant to prednisolone and azathioprine. Our patient was treated successfully with rituximab and his remission was sustained for 24 months of follow-up. Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that acts against the specific B cell antigen, CD20. The recent success of rituximab in autoimmune diseases, which is considered to be T cell-mediated, indicates that B cells must have a much broader role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases than generally appreciated.

Behçet's is a rare disease, so very few studies are being done.

However, if you have disease that might be helped by Rituximab, my (slightly educated) guess is to try consume no milk, no dairy and no eggs for at least 4 weeks to see if it helps – it's worth a shot.