Behçet's disease in Saudi Arabia.
OBJECTIVE
To study the presentation of Behçet's disease (BD) in the Saudi population and to determine any differences in clinical manifestation and prognosis between men and women.


METHODS
One hundred nineteen patients with BD attending the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH & RC) and the King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) between 1979 and 1992 were studied.


RESULTS
The male to female ratio was 3.4:1. The mean age was 29.3; oral ulcer was present in all the patients (100%), genital ulcer 87%, ocular involvement 65%, skin manifestations 57%, and arthritis 37%. Central nervous system involvement was present in 52 patients (44%) of which 12 had benign intracranial hypertension (BICH), pleuropulmonary manifestation 16%, deep venous thrombosis 25%, arterial thrombosis and aneurysm 18%, gastrointestinal manifestations 4%, and epididymitis 4%. Significant proteinuria was present in 9 patients 7.5%, of whom 3 had renal biopsy. The pathergy test was positive in 15 of 85 (17.5%) patients. HLA-typing was performed for 85 patients and HLA B5(51) was positive in 61 (72%) patients compared with 26% general population.


CONCLUSIONS
Using the Fisher exact test, there was no significant difference in clinical manifestation or prognosis comparing men to women.
Department of Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
A N
AN
al-Dalaan
S R
SR
al Balaa
K
K
el Ramahi
Z
Z
al-Kawi
S
S
Bohlega
S
S
Bahabri
M A
MA
al Janadi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis