Behcet's Disease

What is Behcet's Disease

Behcet's disease is a rare autoimmune disorder that causes small blood vessels around the body to become inflamed, known as vasculitis. The symptoms vary depending on which part of the body vasculitis occurs.

It most commonly affects people between the ages of 20 and 40.

What are the Symptoms of Behcet's Disease

Almost all of those with Behcet's suffer recurrent painful mouth ulcers that can make eating extremely difficult. Recurrent genital ulceration, inflammation of the eye (called uveitis) and skin lesions, such as an acne-like rash and red bumpy nodules (called erythema nodosum), occur.

If the joints are affected, then painful arthritis can cause severe disability. Sometimes the nerves and brain are affected, leading to impaired balance, speech and memory loss.

Recurrent pain, fever and tiredness cause a great deal of fatigue. It's easy for someone with a disease that lasts a lifetime and has no cure to also become depressed. Emotional support and understanding is essential and often provided through the self-help groups that exist around the world for sufferers and their carers.

There's no specific test a doctor can do to diagnose Behcet's. For this reason, and because the symptoms a person suffers may have other causes, it can take a long time before the diagnosis is made. It needs a great deal of awareness to recognise the pattern of symptoms that, pieced together, may indicate that Behcet's is the solution to the puzzle.

Traditional Medical Treatments for Behcet's Disease

Current treatment is aimed at easing the symptoms, reducing inflammation, and controlling the immune system. Anti-TNF therapy has shown promise in treating the uveitis associated with the disease.