[Pathophysiology of Behcet's disease]

Abstract

Subject: Pathophysiology of Behçet's disease (BD) is complex. Recent experimental data shed new light on the mechanisms leading to organ lesions.

Main issues: Neutrophils and cytotoxic lymphocytes are now recognized as key effector cells in BD. Genetic susceptibility, environmental factors (virus and/or bacterial infections), inflammatory response abnormalities (heat shock proteins, dysregulated NO production) and abnormal immune response play also a major role in BD pathogeny.

Perspectives: Better understanding of the BD pathophysiology will allow the development of new therapies more specific of BD.