An evaluation of apremilast for the treatment of adult patients with oral ulcers associated with Behçet's syndrome.

Ayşe Özdede, Gülen Hatemi

Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy 2021 Aug

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Behçet's syndrome is a chronic, multi-system, variable vasculitis of unknown etiology that can result in significant morbidity and mortality. Mucocutaneous lesions such as oral ulcers and genital ulcers are common manifestations that can affect the quality of life of patients significantly. Treatment for mucocutaneous lesions in Behçet's syndrome continues to be critical, and an unmet need remains a significant issue. This review evaluates the mechanism of action of apremilast, its effect on the number and pain of oral ulcers, other manifestations, such as genital ulcers, disease activity, quality of life and safety profile in Behçet's syndrome patients. Data from clinical trials as well as observational studies were included. Two randomized placebo-controlled trials and real-world observational data suggest that apremilast is an effective and well-tolerated treatment modality for oral and genital ulcers in Behçet's syndrome. Observational studies additionally showed beneficial results for skin lesions, arthritis, and intestinal involvement.

Citation

Ayşe Özdede, Gülen Hatemi. An evaluation of apremilast for the treatment of adult patients with oral ulcers associated with Behçet's syndrome. Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy. 2021 Aug;22(12):1533-1537