The Clinical Significance of a Pathergy Reaction in Patients with Behcet's Disease

Abstract

This study was done to evaluate the frequency, intensity, and specificity of a positive pathergy reaction (PR) in Behcet's disease (BD) patients, to clarify an association between the PR and the clinical features or disease severity, and to assess whether patients with pustule formation at the venous puncture site (PFVPS) without positive PR could be regarded as a positive reaction. The PR was tested in 64 BD patients, 74 disease controls, and 20 healthy controls. Venous PR was performed in 8 BD patients with PFVPS. Follow-up PR was done in 14 patients with positive reaction during inactive phase. The PR was positive in 35.9% of BD patients, in 1 patient among disease controls, and in none of healthy controls. The pustule formation was observed in one BD patient. There was no statistical significance between positive PR and the clinical variables. The mean clinical activity score of BD patients with positive PR was similar to patients with negative reaction. Venous PR was positive in 7 patients. The follow-up PR was positive in 2 patients during inactive phase. Conclusively the positive PR appeared to be specific for BD, and was not associated with the clinical variables or disease severity, but was usually found during active phase in cases with positive reaction. The PFVPS in patients with negative PR might be considered to be positive.

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

“…Yazici et al [21] reported that male sex is associated with pathergy test positivity. Chang and Cheon [22] found pathergy test positivity to be more prominent in the active periods of BD. We think that patients with pathergy test positivity need more frequent follow-ups and ophthalmological examination.…”

Development and Validation of Novel Diagnostic Criteria for Intestinal Behçet's Disease in Korean Patients With Ileocolonic Ulcers

“…It has been reported that 3 % of 914 patients with defi nite BD, who lacked oral ulcerations, were excluded in the original survey for the ISGBD criteria (15) . Second, in Korea, the rate of positive pathergy tests has been reported to be lower than 40 % (20) . Th ird, Korea and Japan have numerous similarities in terms of ethnic and geographical backgrounds.…”

The Clinical Features of Behcet's Disease in Yongdong Districts: Analysis of a Cohort Followed from 1997 to 2001

“…However, the positive pathergy reaction was more commonly encountered in male patients in the current study and in the multicenter study in Korea (13), although there was no statistical significance in our study. In addition, because the strong reaction such as a pustule formation was very rare as demonstrated in our previous report (6), the difference of the intensity of this reaction between male and female patients could not be assessed.…”