Behçet's disease

Abstract

Behçet's disease (BD) is a systemic disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammation. Major symptoms are oral aphthous ulcers, uveitis, skin lesions, and genital ulcerations. Involvement of vessels, gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and central nervous system (CNS) is less frequent but is associated with a poor prognosis. Pulmonary complications of BD include aneurysms of the aorta, great vessels, or pulmonary arteries; arterial or venous thrombosis; pulmonary parenchymal changes; pleurisy, and intracardiac thrombosis. Hemoptysis caused by pulmonary artery aneurysms may lead to lethal hemorrhage. Recent advances in therapeutic strategies have improved the prognosis. In this review, the salient clinical and histopathological features of BD and treatment strategies are discussed.