Beneficial effects of interferon-alpha in a case with Behcet's disease

At the age of 20 years, a Japanese man with recurrent oral aphthae, genital ulcers, folliculitis, erythema nodosum, episodic arthritis and epididymiti s was diagnosed as having Behcet's disease (BD) in 1966. He has had active ocular manifestations of ED since 1990, These symptoms recurred and never a bated for a long period of time. A right renal cell carcinoma developed and he underwent right nephrectomy in April 1996, Treatment with interferon-al pha was started from June 1996 as supplemental chemotherapy, No active phas e developed during administration of IFN-alpha, We suggest that IFN-alpha m ay play a role as an immunomodulatory agent In BD.