Behcet's Disease: A Clinical Review
Behçet's disease is a complex, multisystem, inflammatory disease classically characterized by recurrent oral ulceration, genital ulceration, and ophthalmologic inflammation. Additional areas of involvement may include the vascular, neurologic, articular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems leading to a myriad of clinical presentations. In this paper, the diverse clinical features, diagnostic criteria, and current treatment data are reviewed.
In 1937, Hulusi Behçet, a Turkish dermatologist, described a syndrome characterized by recurrent oral ulcers, genital ulcers, and hypopyon uveitis of unknown cause. Over time, Behçet's disease has come to be recognized as a complex, multisystem, inflammatory disease characterized not only by the above symptoms but also by vascular, neurologic, articular, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal involvement. The diverse range of clinical findings seems to stem from an underlying vasculitis; however, the ultimate etiologic agent remains unknown.
Abstract
Behçet's disease is a complex, multisystem, inflammatory disease classically characterized by recurrent oral ulceration, genital ulceration, and ophthalmologic inflammation. Additional areas of involvement may include the vascular, neurologic, articular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems leading to a myriad of clinical presentations. In this paper, the diverse clinical features, diagnostic criteria, and current treatment data are reviewed.
Introduction
In 1937, Hulusi Behçet, a Turkish dermatologist, described a syndrome characterized by recurrent oral ulcers, genital ulcers, and hypopyon uveitis of unknown cause. Over time, Behçet's disease has come to be recognized as a complex, multisystem, inflammatory disease characterized not only by the above symptoms but also by vascular, neurologic, articular, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal involvement. The diverse range of clinical findings seems to stem from an underlying vasculitis; however, the ultimate etiologic agent remains unknown.
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