Behcet's disease – Behçet's Syndrome

Description of Behcet's disease

Behcet's disease – rare, chronic illness, in which there is inflammation of the blood vessels throughout the body. The peculiarity of this disease – recurrent oral and genital sores and eye inflammation.

Behcet's disease causes

Cause of illness Behceta unknown. It is believed, It is called autoimmune reaction. It happens, When the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissue. This autoimmune disorder can be inherited.

Behcet's disease risk factors

Although the exact cause of illness Behceta unknown, some groups of people, more at risk of the disease. Factors, that can increase the risk of Behcet's disease, include:

• Place of residence: Near East, Asia, and Japan;
• Paul:
  • In Europe the men often fall ill, than women;
  • In The Middle East, Asia, and Japan, women have the disease more often, than men;
• Age – between 20 and 30 years.

Symptoms of Behcet's disease

Behcet's disease symptoms can be from moderate to very heavy. Symptoms tend to appear, disappear, and then recur – often months or years. The most common symptoms of the disease:

Wounds in the oral cavity:

• Appear almost all people with the disease;
• Usually first appear;
• Usually heal over 10 – 14 days;
• Can be painful;
• Can lead to scarring.

Genital ulcer:

• Men: appear on the the penis and/or moşonke;
• Women: appear on the vulva or inside vagina;
• Can be painful;
• Can lead to scarring.

Uveitis – eye inflammation, including the Rainbow shell:

• Tends to cause eye redness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, watery eyes;
• If not treated, can cause a partial or complete loss of vision.

Arthritis – inflammation of joints:

• Usually, quite painful;
• Usually does not cause permanent damage of joints.

Skin problems, such as ulcers:

• May manifest as red, swollen wounds, or in the form of flat red areas on the skin;
• Usually appear on the legs and upper body.

Other symptoms may include:

• Severe fatigue during acute illness;
• Blood clots:
  • Cause thrombophlebitis (inflammation of the veins), usually in the legs;
  • May cause severe complications if not treated.

Aneurysms, or severely dilated blood vessels:

• May burst and cause serious consequences;

Problems with heart, such as:

• Abnormal heart rhythms;
• Missing heart;
• Inflammation of the heart muscle (miokardit).

Problems with the central nervous system:

• For Example, meningoэncefalit, which is an inflammation of the brain tissue;
• Can lead to convulsions, confusion, stroke, problems with memory, headaches.

Digestive problems:

• Cause of ulcers and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract (rarely).

Diagnosis of Behçet's disease

Diagnostrovat' illness behceta very hard, because:

• Symptoms are similar to many other diseases;
• Symptoms often appear very slowly, for months or years;
• There are no specific techniques for confirmation of disease.

A doctor may suspect illness Behceta, If the wound in the mouth appear at least three times during the year, and at least two of the following recurrent symptoms:

• Inflammation of the eye;
• Genital sores;
• Skin wounds;

If suspected Behcet's disease, have to do analysis, to exclude other diseases with similar symptoms. Besides, can be done patjergicheskaja skin sample. For this analysis, the skin is punctured with a tiny needle. Disease Behcet's disease at injection site skin inflammation appears. But, This analysis is not a final. Many people with Behcet's disease no reaction on skin prick.

Treatment of Behcet's disease

For the treatment of this disease there are no techniques, However, some procedures may cause regression of Behcet's disease. Treatment is aimed at controlling and preventing complications from symptoms. With proper treatment the disease usually heals fairly well. Treatment includes medications, recreation, and exercise.

Treatment with medicines

Use oral medication and external application.

Medicines for external application include ointments, Lotions, and means of mouthwash, that contain corticosteroids (to reduce inflammation) and/or anaesthetics (to reduce pain). They also put on sores, to reduce inflammation and pain.

Oral formulations, include:

• Oral corticosteroids – to reduce inflammation and pain;
• Immunosuppressive – to reduce the overactive immune system. They may include:
• Interferon;
• Imuran;
• Khlorambutsil;
• Cyclosporine;
• Colchicine;
• Methotrexate;
• Dapsone;
• Infliximab;
• Thalidomide.

Many of the drugs, used, to cure illness Behceta, can cause severe side effects. The acceptance of such preparations should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor.

Rest and exercise

The General principles of this method include:

• Recreation, When signs of illness behceta, to help speed recovery;
• Moderate exercise, when symptoms disappear, to help preserve the flexibility and strength of joints.

Behcet's disease prevention

Prevention methods for Behcet's disease does not exist, Since unclear causes and mechanism of its occurrence.