Behçet's Disease

Abstract

BehÇet's disease is an inflammatory disorder of unknown cause, characterized by recurrent oral aphthous ulcers, genital ulcers, uveitis, and skin lesions.^1,2 All these common manifestations are self-limiting except for the ocular attacks. Repeated attacks of uveitis can cause blindness.¹³ Behçet's disease is not a chronic, persistent inflammatory disease, but rather one consisting of recurrent attacks of acute inflammation. Involvement of the gastrointestinal tract, central nervous system, and large vessels is less frequent (Table 1), although it can be life-threatening.^1,2,46 Susceptibility to Behçet's disease is strongly associated with the presence of the HLA-B51 allele.^7,8 Environmental . . .