Validity of Pathergy test in patients with Behcet’s disease

Abstract EN

Background and objectives Behçet’s disease is a chronic relapsing multi-system disease with a high prevalent rate and of severe form in countries along the silk route.

For diagnosis, a set of criteria has been adopted.

Pathergy test, a unique skin lesion of disease, is an important criterion for diagnosis and classification of it.

The aim of study was to assess pathergy test in patients diagnosed as Behçet’s disease according to the International Study Group criteria.

Methods The study was conducted in two years between October 2005 and October 2007.

Cases were diagnosed as having Behçet’s disease based on the International Study Group criteria for the diagnosis of Behçet’s disease.

All cases were patients attending Duhok Center for Rheumatic Diseases and Rehabilitation.

Controls were volunteers and persons who attended the center for consultation of non specific mechanical strain or sprain and with no history of orogenital ulceration.

Results Majority of patients were in the fourth decade of life and in most of them the disease had started in the third decade.

The male to female ratio was 1.12:1.

History of oral ulcer has been reported by 84.3 % at disease onset and the percentage was 100% at diagnosis.

Statistically significant difference in the rate of positive pathergy test during exacerbation and remission of disease was obtained and of high specificity for disease.

Gender played no role in the positive rate during phases of disease.

Age extremities and disease duration less than 10 years were associated with a drop in the positive rate during remission.

Conclusion Pathergy phenomenon occured in about one half of patients with Behçet’s disease and it is recommended to be performed in every patients of Behçet’s disease especially those with incomplete manifestations for diagnosis as it is one of criteria required diagnostic set.