title: [Behçet's disease associated with peripheral neuropathy].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The involvement of the peripheral nervous system in Behçet's disease is very rare.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of a 47-year-old man with a six-year history of Behçet's disease and a two-year history of peripheral nervous system involvement. This patient presented with paraesthesia and weakness of the upper and lower limbs, diarrhea and erectile dysfunction. The electromyogram showed evidence of an axonal sensorimotor neuropathy and the nerve biopsy showed an axonal neuropathy. Routine blood tests were normal, there was no increase of serum creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransfease or lactate dehydrogenase and no signs of hyperthyroidism. Fibroscopy and colonoscopy showed no signs of entero-Behçet. The patient was treated with prednisone, cyclophosphamide and carbamazepine with an improvement of paraesthesia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mechanism of the peripheral neuropathy in Behçet's disease is still unknown, it might be due to vasculitis of the vasa nervorum or to the side effects of colchicine. Our report is particular by the association of sensorimotor and autonomic involvement of peripheral neuropathy in a patient with Behçet's disease.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Interne, Hôpital La Rabta, 1007 Tunis, Tunisie. benghorbelimed@yahoo.com
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ben Ghorbel
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ibnelhadj
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zouari
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khanfir
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hentati
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Houman
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D004576:Electromyography; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D002220:Carbamazepine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone