Wednesday 6 October 2010

MRCP revision battle 25.2: Behcets disease

Behcet's disease is a systemic vasculitis of unknown cause.


The classic triad of Behcet's disease is:
  • oral ulcers
  • genital ulcers
  • anterior uveitus
which I remember as GOA, like the place in India.



Other possible features include:
  • thrombophlebitis
  • DVT
  • erythema nodosum
  • pathergy reaction (=needle prick leads to pustule formation)
  • arthritis
  • aseptic meningitis
  • ataxia
  • diarrhoea


Males are more commonly affected than females.
It is commonest in Turkey and Japan.
30% of patients have a positive family history.


HLA B5 is associated with anterior uveitis and HLA B12 is associated with recurrent ulceration.


Severe disease requires steroids/ciclosporin/azathioprine.


Next up - SAH...