VASCULAR COMPLICATIONS OF BEHÇET’S DISEASE

Background- This study was conducted to identify the frequency of vascular complications in patients with Behçet’s disease (BD) and to determine the average time period between disease onset and development of complications. Methods- Vascular findings of 343 patients with BD referred to the Behçet’s Disease Research Clinic of Namazee Hospital in Shiraz, South West Iran were assessed over a 6-year period. Data was extracted from the medical records of each consecutive patient. Doppler sonography, computed tomography, digital subtraction angiography and/or conventional angiography were done in cases of positive clinical findings. Results- The records of 343 patients (mean age, 34.4 ± 7.1 years, 235 females, 108 males) with BD were analyzed, and 113 vascular events in 48 (14%) patients (mean age, 31.5 ± 7.5 years, 16 females, 32 males) were assessed. The interval between the onset of BD and the appearance of vascular complications was 5.9 ± 5.1 years. Venous and arterial complications were found in 8.2% and 5.7% of patients, respectively. Combined arterial and venous complications were detected in 16 (4.6%) patients. Erythema nodosum-like skin lesions were seen in 69% of the patients with vascular involvement compared to 13.6% of patients without vascular involvement. The presence of one vascular complication increased the chance of developing another major vessel complication in the same patient (p < 0.001) with relative risks of 114 for arterial and 18 for venous sites. Conclusion- Vascular complications of BD are common and might occur on average 5_6 years after the onset of the disease. Both arteries and veins are involved and multiple vascular complications are common.