Co-Occurrence of Behçet's Disease and Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Rare Case Report

Abstract

Introduction Behçet's Disease and Ankylosing Spondylitis are two distinct inflammatory conditions that have rarely been reported to coexist. This study reports a 41-year-old male patient with the co-occurrence of both conditions. Case presentation A 41-year-old male presented with chronic lower back pain for a period of 20 years. He also had left eye redness and painful oral ulcers. On physical examination, there were oral lesions and left eye redness (uveitis), and the patient's spine exhibited restricted mobility. Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the sacroiliac joint showed sacroiliacis affecting both sacroiliac joints. Hence, the patient was diagnosed as a case of mixed Behcet's disease and ankylosing spondylitis. The patient was managed with Azathioprine (Imuran) tablet (50 mg) twice daily, Colchicine tablet (1 mg) once daily, Topical steroid and Ulciguard mouth spray, Prednisolone tablet (5 mg) once daily, calcium and vitamin D3 tablet once daily, steroid eye drops, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for 2 weeks. As a result, the patient achieved a dramatic response with all the symptoms resolved. Conclusion Behçet's disease and ankylosing spondylitis can coexist with overlapping presentations, making their clinical diagnosis challenging.