Gastrointestinal manifestations of Behçet's disease: advances in evaluation and management

Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2014 Jul-Aug;32(4 Suppl 84):S140-8. Epub 2014 Sep 30.

Abstract

Behçet's disease is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory disorder characterized by orogenital ulcers and skin lesions; serious manifestations also include ocular, large vessel, gastrointestinal and neurological involvement. Genetic and unknown environmental factors customise the wide clinical expression of the disease. Gastrointestinal involvement is not unusual, albeit with a highly variable frequency among different ethnic populations. However, given the fact that gastrointestinal symptoms such as reflux, bleeding, diarrhoea are common in the general population, their clinical significance needs to be carefully interpreted. Apart from mouth the ileocecal area is typically involved, but inflammatory and/or vasculitic lesions may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Complications such as perforation carry high morbidity rates and even mortality. Herein, we review all available information pertinent to gastrointestinal involvement of Behçet's disease and discuss the published advances in evaluation and its empirical management, including anti-TNF biologic therapies.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Behcet Syndrome* / complications
  • Behcet Syndrome* / diagnosis
  • Behcet Syndrome* / therapy
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases* / diagnosis
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases* / etiology
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases* / therapy
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / pathology*
  • Humans