Major vascular complications in Behçet’s syndrome

Abstract

Summary Two patients with Behçet’s syndrome are described. One patient developed spontaneous bilateral popliteal artery aneurysms and the other spontaneous thrombosis of the superior vena cava. These cases emphasize that primary inflammatory lesions of large vessels, with arterial aneurysm formation and thrombosis may be a feature of the syndrome.

Fibrinolysis and Thrombosis in Behçet’s Disease

“…Although the thrombotic diathesis predominantly affects the venous system, involvement of both small and large arteries has been reported, including gangrene of the extremities as well as aortic aneurysm formation [7,10,13]. Histological examination of the aneurysm demonstrated severe, acute inflammatory changes resembling vasculitis.…”

Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysm Associated With Behcet's Disease-Case Report-

“…19) Obliterative endarteritis of the vasa vasorum leads to weakening of the arterial wall and aneurysm formation. 9) The cerebral vasculature can also be involved in Behçet's disease. Extracranial isolated fusiform or saccular aneurysm formation is well known, but cerebral aneurysms are very rare with only 13 reported cases (Table 1).…”

“…The pathogenesis of aneurysmal complications is attributed to obliterative endarteritis of the vasa vasorum, which causes necrosis and thereby weakens the vessel wall, leading to formation of true aneurysm or perforation of the vessel wall leading to formation of false aneurysm. 9,19) Intracranial aneurysms associated with Behçet's disease are extremely rare, with only 13 reported cases. 1,4,5,7,8,12,13,15,16,23,[25][26][27] We present another case of Behçet's disease associated with ruptured middle cerebral artery (MCA) bifurcation aneurysm which was treated by surgical intervention.…”

Pulmonary Aneurysm in Behcet Syndrome: Two Case Reports and Review of the Literature

“…Roentgenographically, pulmonary hemorrhages are seen as infiltrates, the necrotic and hemorrhagic pulmonary infarcts usually appear as peripheral opacities, and the proximal opacities may correspond to pulmonary artery aneurysms [8].…”

“…One may observe thromboangiitis at various stages of evolution, [8,10], Thromboangiitis of large branches of pulmonary artery may result in pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure [11][12][13][14][15].…”