title: A possible variant of neuro-Behçet disease presenting chronic progressive ataxia without mucocutaneo-ocular symptoms.
abstract: Behçet disease (BD) is a chronic relapsing multisystem disorder of unknown etiology, which preferentially affects the oral and genital mucous membranes, skin, and eyes. Neurological involvement is one of the most serious manifestations of BD, known as neuro-Behçet disease (NBD). We here describe clinical, radiological, and neuropathological findings for two patients with a possible variant of NBD, who manifested progressive ataxia in the absence of mucocutaneo-ocular signs characteristic for BD. Both patients presented a slowly progressive cerebellar phenotype, accompanied by behavioral changes and sphincter disturbance. Brain MRI scan revealed mild atrophy in pons and cerebellum. Both patients showed a mild CSF pleocytosis, and were positive for HLA-B51. The post-mortem examination performed in one patient, showed widespread foci of chronic encephalitis, consistent with the diagnosis of NBD. Steroid pulse therapy was effective in one patient. Identifying the progressive ataxia phenotype of NBD without mucocutaneo-ocular symptoms is important, because these patients may benefit from early steroid therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, 1 Asahimachi, Niigata , 951-8585, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirose
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikeuchi
authors.forename: Shintaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Kenshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Terajima
authors.forename: Kotaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Tsunemi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Akiyoshi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kakita
authors.forename: Teruo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Masatoyo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishizawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001259:Ataxia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D001284:Atrophy / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000097:blood; D059949:HLA-B51 Antigen; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D059949:HLA-B51 Antigen