Behçet’s Disease
Behçet’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting blood vessels. Patients often experience skin and joint pain, eye inflammation, and recurring mouth and genital sores.
About Behçet’s Disease
Behçet’s disease is a rare inflammatory condition affecting the vasculature in multiple bodily systems. The cause of Behçet’s disease is undetermined, but some researchers believe it is an autoimmune condition, meaning that symptoms result from your body’s immune system mistakenly attacking healthy tissue.
Symptoms of Behçet’s Disease
In Behçet’s disease, symptoms often come and go in a cycle of attacks and remissions.
Symptoms of Behçet’s disease may include:
- Blood in stool
- Headache
- Impaired balance
- Inflammation in the eyes
- Joint swelling and pain
- Sores on skin, mouth, and/or genitals
Risk Factors for Behçet’s Disease
Once researchers determine the cause of Behçet’s disease, risk factors associated with the condition will become more clear.
Risk factors for Behçet’s disease may include:
- Age: The condition typically affects people between the ages of 20 and 40.
- Family history: Certain genes are associated with Behçet’s disease although researchers are unsure if the condition is inherited.
- Personal history: Behçet’s disease is most common among people living in the Middle East and East Asia.
- Sex: The condition is more common in male patients.
Treating Behçet’s Disease at UT Medicine
Inflammation associated with Behçet’s disease can be treated with corticosteroids such as prednisone. You may also be prescribed medicines that suppress or alter your body’s immune responses.
