Behcet’s disease is a rare, chronic disorder involving inflammation of blood vessels throughout the body. It is marked by recurrent oral and genital ulcers and eye inflammation.

Causes

The cause of Behcet’s disease is unknown. It is believed to be caused by an autoimmune reaction. This occurs when the body’s immune system attacks its own tissue by mistake. This autoimmune abnormality may be inherited. An environmental trigger, such as a specific virus or bacterium, may activate the disease in people susceptible to it.

Risk Factors

A risk factor is something that increases your chances of getting a disease or condition. Although the exact cause of Behcet’s disease is unknown, some groups of people are more likely to develop the condition than others. Risk factors include:

• Location: the Middle East, Asia, and Japan

• Sex:

• • In the US, men are more likely than women to develop this condition.

• • In the Middle East, Asia, and Japan, women are more likely than men to develop Behcet’s.

• Age: 20s and 30s

Symptoms

Symptoms of Behcet’s disease can vary from mild to very severe. Symptoms tend to appear, heal, and then recur (referred to as a flare) frequently over months or years. The most common symptoms of the disease are:

• Oral sores

• • Affect almost all people with the disease

• • Usually are the first to appear

• • Usually last for 10-14 days

• • Can be painful

• • Can cause scarring

• Genital sores

• • In men: appear on the penis and/or scrotum

• • In women: appear on the vulva or within the vagina

• • Can be painful

• • Can cause scarring

• Uveitis – inflammation of the middle part of the eye, including the iris

• • Tends to cause eye redness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and watering eyes

• • If not treated, can cause partial vision loss or blindness

• Arthritis – inflammation of joints

• • Tends to be painful

• • Usually does not cause permanent joint damage

• Skin problems, such as sores

• • May appear as red, raised sores or bumps, or may be flat (flush with the skin)

• • Usually appear on the legs and upper torso

Other symptoms of the disease may include:

• Severe fatigue during a flare

• Blood clots

• • Caused by thrombophelebitis (inflammation of veins), usually in the legs

• • Can cause severe complications if not treated quickly

• Heart problems, such as:

• • Abnormal heart rhythms

• • Missed heartbeats

• • Early heartbeats

• • Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis)

• Central nervous system problems

• • For example, meningoencephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain and membrane that lines the brain

• • May result in seizures, confusion, strokes, memory problems, headaches

• Digestive problems – rarely, the disease causes ulcers and inflammation of the digestive tract

Diagnosis

Diagnosing Behcet’s disease is very difficult because:

• Symptoms are similar to those of many other diseases

• Symptoms often appear very slowly, over months or years

• There is no specific test to confirm the disease

A doctor may suspect Behcet’s disease if oral sores appear at least three times within a year, and at least two of the following recurring symptoms appear:

• Eye inflammation

• Genital sores

• Skin sores

If Behcet’s disease is suspected, your doctor will do tests to rule out other diseases with similar symptoms. Also, you may have a pathergy skin test. For this test, your skin is pricked with a small needle. If you have Behcet’s disease, a bump will develop at the site of the skin prick. However, this test is not conclusive. Many people with the disease do not have a reaction to the skin prick.

Treatment

There is no cure for Behcet’s disease. Treatment is aimed at limiting and preventing complications from symptoms. With proper treatment, the disease can usually be managed fairly well. Treatment includes medications, rest, and exercise.

Prevention

There are no guidelines for the prevention of Behcet's disease because the exact cause is unknown.

RESOURCES:

American Behcet’s Disease Association
http://www.behcets.com

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
http://www.niams.nih.gov

References:

Abu El Asrar, ABoooud EB, ALbibhi H, Al-Arfaj A. Long-term safety and efficacy of infliximab therapy in refractory uveitis due to Behcet's disease. Int Ophthalmol. Sep 23, 2006.

The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. Simon & Schuster; 2001.

Okada AA. Behcet's disease: general concepts and recent advances. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. Dec 2006;17(6):551-6.

National Organization of Rare Disorders, Inc. website. Available at: http://www.rarediseases.org/.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website. Available at: http://www.niams.nih.gov.