[Behcet's disease]

Abstract

Behcet's disease is a recurrent, systemic inflammatory disease of the vasculitides group. It has been most frequently diagnosed in Japan and east Mediterranean countries. Its clinical picture is characterised by multiple organ and systemic defects indicating vasculitis. In addition to triple symptom of complex (recurrent ulcerations of the oral cavity and genital organs, eye lesions in the form of episcleritis, uveitis and hypopyon), other symptoms and signs are also frequent. Aetiology of the disease has not yet been completely elucidated. Immunosuprressive agents, as a single therapy or combined with glycocorticoid drugs, are used in treatment of Behcet's disease. As for the prognosis of the Behcet's disease, chronic exacerbation of the symptoms and signs is typical, and insufficiently aggressively treated posterior uveitis usually results in blindness. The prognosis is also poor in case of central nervous system and large arterial blood vessels lesions.