A health condition that happens rarely and causes inflammation of the blood vessels throughout the body is called Behcet’s disease (also known as Behcet’s syndrome). It may cause multiple symptoms that can seem unrelated to this syndrome at first. The most common symptoms include eye inflammation, skin rashes and lesions, genital sores, and eye inflammation.
The treatment goal is to reduce inflammation, lessen the symptoms, and prevent life-threatening complications.
Symptoms
The symptoms caused by this condition are often different among people because it depends on the severity of the condition and which part of the body is affected. As a result, the symptoms can come and go or become less severe over time. Check below the most commonly affected areas:
- Mouth – This syndrome causes mouth sores that look similar to canker sores, and usually, it is the most common sign of Behcet’s disease. These sores appear as raised and round lesions in the mouth that turn quickly into painful ulcers.
- Skin – When the disease affects the skin, people develop acne-like sores or red and raised nodules on the skin.
- Genitals – However, this condition may affect the genitals, too. When it occurs, you may notice open sores on the scrotum or vulva. Commonly, these sores are painful and may leave scars.
- Eyes – In such cases, you may experience eye inflammation (uveitis) that causes redness, pain, and blurred vision. Commonly, the condition impacts both eyes.
- Joints – Joint pain and swelling often occur when Behcet’s disease affects the joints. Moreover, wrists, ankles, or elbows may also be involved.
- Blood vessels – This condition may affect veins and arteries and cause inflammation. The most common symptoms include swelling, redness, and pain that happens in the arms or legs. In severe cases, inflammation in the major arteries may cause certain complications. These include aneurysms, narrowing or blockages of the vessel, and others.
- Digestive system – There are multiple symptoms that may affect the digestive system. For example, diarrhea, bleeding, abdominal (belly) pain, and others.
- Brain – Sometimes, Behcet’s disease may affect the brain and nervous system. In such cases, people may experience headaches, fever, disorientation, poor balance, or stroke.
If you experience any of the previous symptoms or have problems with any of the body structures or organs listed above, immediately visit your healthcare professional.
Causes
This is an autoimmune condition that occurs when the immune system produces antibodies that mistakenly attack healthy tissue instead of germs. Experts do not fully understand why it happens, but they think genetic and environmental factors could play a role.
However, most symptoms of this disease happen due to inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis) throughout the body. When it occurs, it can affect multiple arteries and veins of all sizes.
Some recent studies have found some genes to be linked with this syndrome. However, some experts believe that a bacterium or virus can also trigger this syndrome in some people who have these abnormal genes.
Risk Factors
While it is not possible to determine the exact cause of the disease, physicians have identified some factors that could elevate your risk of developing it. Check below for some examples:
- Age – While it may occur at any age, it is mostly diagnosed in people between 20 and 30 years. An increased risk of developing the condition also exists in children and older adults.
- Living conditions – Those who live in the Middle East and East Asia (including Turkey, Iran, China, and Japan) are more likely to develop Behcet’s disease.
- Sex – While it may affect both men and women, males usually develop a more severe form of the disease.
- Genes – Recently, researchers have found some genes associated with this autoimmune condition.
What Are The Possible Complications of Behcet’s Disease?
The complications that may occur due to Behcet’s disease depend on the severity of the symptoms. For example, leaving uveitis untreated may lead to reduced vision or even blindness. It is very important to see a doctor if you notice vision changes.
Diagnosis
However, there are no specific tests that can confirm this autoimmune disorder. Therefore, physicians diagnose this condition based on the symptoms and some tests. For example, almost all people with Behcet’s disease develop mouth sores at least 3 times per year. Furthermore, to diagnose this condition, there are two additional signs, including skin sores, eye inflammation, and recurrent genital sores. Diagnosis of this disease may include the following tests. For example:
- Blood tests – These tests are used to rule out other conditions that may cause similar symptoms.
- Pathergy test – During this test, physicians use a sterile needle that is inserted into the skin to examine the area. When the test is positive, people usually notice red bumps that form under the skin, which indicates an overreaction of the immune system.
Treatment
Behcet’s disease cannot be cured, and treatment focuses on relieving the symptoms and improving your quality of life. Treatment usually includes medicines to treat the symptoms and reduce inflammation. Check below for some medicines used to lessen the symptoms during flares:
- Skin ointments, gels, and creams – Physicians often prescribe topical corticosteroids to relieve inflammation on the skin and genital area.
- Mouth rinses – These include specific mouthwashes that help relieve pain and discomfort caused by mouth sores that are common in people with Behcet’s disease.
- Eye drops – If you experience eye inflammation or vision problems, doctors may prescribe some anti-inflammatory eye drops to relieve the symptoms.
Systemic Treatments for Behcet’s Disease
When topical medicines do not work, physicians may prescribe a medicine called Colchicine to treat recurrent mouth and genital sores. Moreover, joint swelling and pain may also improve with Colchicine.
In severe cases, healthcare professionals prescribe treatments to control the damage caused by the disease. Check below for some treatments often recommended by doctors:
- Corticosteroids – In general, this group of medicines is used to reduce inflammation. In such cases, doctors often prescribe Prednisone along with immunosuppressants to control the disease. Weight gain, heartburn, hypertension, and osteoporosis are certain corticosteroid adverse reactions. Take these medicines exactly as prescribed by your doctor to prevent severe negative effects.
- Immunosuppressants – These medicines block the immune system’s reaction that attacks healthy tissues. Commonly, physicians recommend Azathioprine, Cyclosporine, and Cyclophosphamide. However, there are some severe adverse reactions that may occur while taking immunosuppressants. These include kidney and liver problems, low blood counts, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of infections.
- Interferon alfa-2b – This is a specific medicine that helps regulate the immune system and control inflammation. While it can be used alone, it may be recommended along with medicines used to treat skin sores, joint pain, eye problems, and others. The most common side effects of Interferon alfa-2b are flu-like symptoms (including extreme tiredness, muscle pain, and others).
In addition, medicines that block a substance known as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) may help with certain severe or resistant symptoms caused by Behcet’s disease. Usually, doctors prescribe Infliximab or Adalimumab.
Frequently Asked Questions
What foods trigger Behcet’s?
There are some foods that may trigger symptoms of this autoimmune disease. These include nuts, pineapple, peanuts, Emmental cheese, almonds, and lemons, among others. For more details, discuss it with your doctor.
What is the life expectancy of someone with Behcet’s disease?
Generally, the life expectancy is not affected by the disease because in most cases, the symptoms and manageable. However, if a person with Behcet’s disease experiences serious complications, including vascular problems, blindness, or neurological problems, their life expectancy may decrease significantly.
What can be mistaken for Behcet’s?
A lot of health conditions can be mistaken for Behcet’s disease. It often occurs because there are no specific tests that can confirm the condition. Check below for some examples:
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- Multiple sclerosis
- Sarcoidosis
- Reiter’s syndrome
- HLA-B27 Seronegative Arthritis (such as ankylosing spondylitis)
- Celiac disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Crohn’s disease
This article does not contain a complete list of diseases that can be mistaken for Behcet’s disease. Ask your healthcare provider if you have additional questions.
