Behcet’s Disease: Systemic and Ocular Manifestations

Abstract EN

Aim.

The aim of this study was to evaluate if patients with Behcet’s disease who have ocular involvement have a more severe form of this disease as compared to patients with Behcet’s disease alone.

Methods.

A total of 99 patients were included in the study.

76 patients were used as part of the examined group, and 23 patients formed a control group.

Results.

The following are the results of examined and control groups, respectively: recurrent oral aphthous ulcers 89.5%, 95.7%; genital ulcers 61.8%, 97.0%; articular involvement 72.4%, 65.2%; vasculitis 81.6%, 60.9%; positive pathergy test 25.0%, 47.8%.

Higher frequency of genital ulcerations was noted in control group (P=0.001).

More than two major criteria were met in 100% of the cases.

HLA B51 was present in 78.9% of the cases in the examined group and 43.5% of the cases in control group; thus there is significant difference between them (P=0.001).

Visual acuity >0.5 occurred in 76% (examined group).

Most frequent ocular manifestations in the examined group were retinal periphlebitis 81.6%, periphlebitis and periarteritis 65%, and serofibrinous uveitis 63.2%.

Macular edema as a complication was present in 63.2%.

The majority of patients (55.3%) were treated with combined therapy consisting of cyclosporine A and systemic corticosteroids.

In 38.2% of patients, laser photocoagulation was used on retinal periphery.