Off-Label Drug Use in Ocular Behçet's Disease in Turkey

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: To assess demographic characteristics in patients with ocular Behçet's disease who use off-label drugs in Turkey. METHODS: The applications for off-label drug use (infliximab, adalimumab, mycophenolat mofetil) from hospitals in Turkey to the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency from January to December 2013 were evaluated retrospectively. The files of the cases were evaluated in terms of demographic data, previous treatment regimens and reasons for referral. RESULTS: The study included 124 patients who were admitted for off-label drug use. The mean age of the patients was 32.1 +- 7.9 years. While 72.6% of all applications were male, 27.4% were female. Seventy-eight percent of the applicants were from Marmara and Central Anatolia. Infliximab was the most applied off-label drug in ocular Behçet's disease at a rate of 75% in Turkey. When the hospitals that applied were taken, the state universities took the first place with a ratio of 88% and the education and research hospitals came to the fore with a 6.5% rate. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Examination of demographic data on off-label drug use can be a guide in terms of providing the necessary convenience in legislation in line with drug preferences.

Keywords

• demographic characteristics
• ocular behçet's disease
• demographic characteristics
• off-label drug use