Journal of Clinical & Experimental Dermatology Research
Open Access

Abstract

Behçet's Disease: A Retrospective Study of 30 Cases from China

Su Ying Feng, Wei Su, Paul M Graham and Pei Ying Jin

Background: Behçet's disease is a chronic systemic inflammatory vasculitis with multi-organ involvement. The etiology remains unknown and despite the genetic correlation with HLA-B51, it is thought that certain environmental triggers such as viral and bacterial infections are necessary for the development of this disease. The purpose of this case series is to retrospectively study clinical characteristics of Behçet's disease and analyze the efficacy of a standardized treatment regimen.
Methods: We analyzed 30 patients, aged 20-50 years old, with Behçet's disease in terms of clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes. Patient selection was based on the presence of recurrent oral ulcers plus at least two additional findings, including recurrent genital ulceration, ocular involvement, skin lesions, or positive pathergy test. All patients were placed on a standardized treatment regimen based on individual disease characteristics.
Results: In our study, ocular involvement occurred exclusively in male patients with the disease involving predominantly young to middle aged individuals (20-40 years old). No pathognomonic clinical and laboratory findings were specific to the disease, thus often delaying the diagnosis. Treatment regimens consisted of combination therapy with immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory medications. Treatment was divided into two phases: management of acute disease and maintenance therapy with all patients achieving clinical remission after completing treatment.
Conclusion: Behçet's disease is a multifactorial disease involving many possible mechanisms, both genetic and environmental. The mainstay of treatment is immunosuppression and anti-inflammatory medication. Our standardized treatment regimen was based on a therapeutic ladder and proved to be effective with all 30 patients in our study.