Management for arthritis associated with Behçet syndrome

Acute mono- or oligoarthritis usually settles spontaneously in 2 to 3 weeks. If required, colchicine may be effective during this time. For arthritis associated with Behçet syndrome, useHatemi, 2018:

colchicine 500 micrograms orally, once or twice daily. colchicine colchicine colchicine

Reduce colchicine dosage in people with kidney impairment. Patients taking colchicine long term should have monitoring of their full blood count and kidney function and be made aware of signs associated with colchicine toxicity (see Colchicine poisoning for further advice). If pain does not settle with colchicine, low-dose systemic corticosteroids may be added; for acute arthritis associated with Behçet syndrome, useHatemi, 2018:

prednisolone (or prednisone) 5 to 10 mg orally, daily until pain is controlled (typically 5 days), then taper the dose over 1 to 2 weeks to stop. prednis ol one prednis(ol)one prednis(ol)one

Acute mono- or oligoarthritis can be treated with intra-articular corticosteroid injection(s)Hatemi, 2018. For more details on using local corticosteroid injections, see Principles of local corticosteroid injection use for musculoskeletal pain.

For resistant arthritis associated with Behçet syndrome, azathioprine is commonly the first-choice immunomodulatory drug. Other immunomodulatory drugs may be required, including methotrexate, interferon alfa, apremilast and TNF inhibitorsHatemi, 2018.