Manifestations of Behçet's disease
Written by RDC, published 9 months ago.
Photos from: [Epidemiology and clinical manifestations of Adamantiades-Behçet disease in Germany -- current pathogenetic concepts and therapeutic possibilities]. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2006 Jan ;4(1):49-64; quiz 65-6.
An additional online article, Dermatologic Aspects of Behcet Disease, can be found here.
Hypopyon iritis is among the most serious manifestations of ocular lesions in Behcet's disease. In reality it is not frequent and it is often difficult to reveal because it is hidden.
Retinal vasculitis is the most common ocular manifestation, present after a certain period of illness activity and is the most common cause of blindness.
Erythema nodosum (single acute lesion) (more frequent in women). It lasts for a few weeks and it may come back frequently. It's localized mostly on the lower limbs. Erythema nodosum is very painful, and is present in 50% of patients.
Erythema nodosum Clinically speaking it is a multiple nodular eruption, with an erythematous appearance. It mainly affects women. The nodules hurt and may sometimes be associated with legs and feet swelling accompanied by possible arthritis involving knees and ankles.
Positive pathergy reaction The pathergy cutaneous test is a pricking on the skin made by the doctor with a sterile needle. The results are read after 24-48 hours. In patients with Behçet disease the test is often positive (formation of a pustole in the site of pricking) in a moment of disease activity.
Single oral aphthous ulcer occur frequently and act as the first symptom of the Behcet's and form the cornerstone for diagnosis.
Herpetiform oral aphthous ulcers The ulcers of this type are featured by extremely painful lesions. Sometimes with they are accompanied with a fever. They are the least common type of ulcer. The lesions are represented by small but numerous elements of a few millimeters in diameter, often grouped (sometimes blending into one).
Multiple oral aphthous ulcers They are variably located in the mucous membranes of the oral tract, they heal spontaneously in 10-15 days, but they tend to return.
Papules and pustules are acne-like nodules that can appear anywhere in the body
Genital ulcers are a frequent symptom of Behcet's disease
Behcet's genital ulcers depends on the disease and they are not sexually trasmitted (it is a symptom that happens "there" because of this autoimmune/autoinflammation disease) and it is an important symptom for diagnosis (not all the patients anyway present this symtom).
Written by RDC, published 9 months ago.
