Behҫet’s syndrome

Behҫet’s syndrome is inflammatory and chronic, it has an autoimmune aetiology and is characterised by recurring, aphthous-like lesions on the oral and genital mucosa, also occurring in the eye (uveitis, retinal thrombosis, and glaucoma). It frequently involves the dermis, the joints, central nervous system and gastro-intestinal tract. Its pathogenesis is still unknown even if an association with the HLA-B51 antigen has been proposed. This pathology is rare, occurring mainly in patients between 20 and 30 years of age, not gender specific, but apparently less severe in females. The development of Behçet’s syndrome is chronic in nature and diagnosis can be confirmed by the presence of oral, genital, skin and ocular lesions. The presence of the HLA-B51 antigen is considered diagnostically relevant only in the absence of the aforementioned lesions. Treatment is with corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs.