Clinical features of Behcet’s disease in Egypt

Abstract

Behcet's disease (BD) is a chronic relapsing multisystem disease of unknown etiology. Ethnic origin is one of the factors that may modulate the prevalence and the expression of BD. To study the clinical characteristics of Egyptian patients with BD, and compare the pattern of the disease in Egyptians with studies from other countries. Sixty-three patients with BD were studied over a 4-year period. A rheumatologist, dermatologist, neurologist and other specialists as indicated assessed the patients clinically. Laboratory and radiological examinations were done to confirm the diagnosis to rule out any condition that may mimic BD. Sixty-one patients were men, two were women, the mean age of the patients was: 32.8 +/- 8.3 years, age of onset of the disease varied between 17 and 37.4 years. The initial presenting manifestation was oral ulcers in 39.7% of patients, followed by orogenital ulcers in 23.8%, followed by deep venous thrombosis in 7.9% Throughout the study period, the commonest manifestation was oral ulcers (100%), followed by genital ulcers (96.8%), vascular lesions (57.1%), cutaneous (55.5%), ocular (47.6%), joint (36.5%), neurological (34.9%), gastrointestinal (19%) and cardiac (6.3%). BD in Egyptians shows higher male-to-female ratio and higher incidence of vascular and neurological lesions.

The natural course and factors affecting severity of Behçet’s disease: a single-center cohort of 368 patients

“…In a recent study by Vaiopoulos et al [8], OU (64.36 %), EN (7.42 %) and GU (6.93 %), and in a previous study by Zouboulis et al [3], OU (60.9 %), ocular (11.0 %) and articular (9.7 %) involvements were found to be the most common onset manifestations in a Greek population. El Menyawi et al [9] from Egypt reported OU to be the most frequent onset manifestation (63.4 %), followed by GU (26.9 %) and deep venous thrombosis (7.9 %). In the recent study by Pipitone et al [10], OU (78.3 %), GU (29.2 %) and eye involvement (20 %), and in a previous study by Salvarani et al [11], OU (77.8 %), GU (16.7 %) and EN (22.2 %) were reported to be the most common onset presentations in an Italian population.…”

Demographic and clinical features of 521 Turkish patients with Behçet's disease

“…Superficial thrombophlebitis was observed in 2% of patients in Turkey, 19% in China, and 15% in Egypt . Arterial lesions were found in 0.3% of patients in Turkey, 11% in Egypt, and 10% in Tunisia…”

“…Deep vein thrombosis is the main feature, which was seen in 3% of patients in Turkey, 33% in Tunisia, and 41% in Egypt . Superficial thrombophlebitis was observed in 2% of patients in Turkey, 19% in China, and 15% in Egypt . Arterial lesions were found in 0.3% of patients in Turkey, 11% in Egypt, and 10% in Tunisia…”

“…In addition to the classic triad of symptoms, joint, pulmonary, vascular, urogenital, gastrointestinal, and neurological involvement is also seen . Although BD occurs worldwide, it is generally regarded as being most common in the Mediterranean countries, Middle East, and Far East . The highest prevalence was reported in Turkey, 80–370 cases per 100,000 populations …”

Behçet’s Disease: The Clinical and Demographic Characteristics of 406 Patients

“…However, it was higher than the rate of 39.7% found in Egypt. [10][11][12][13][14] Tugal-Tutkun et al [11] showed in their large observational case series that the rate of genital ulcers was 59.8%. This is lower than the rate found in our present study (82.8%), which might reflect the heterogenity of the population living in the Çukurova region since this part of Turkey has distinct ethnic properties compared with other regions.…”