Peripheral nervous system involvement in patients with Behçet disease.
BACKGROUND
Central nervous system involvement in Behçet disease (BD) has been well documented, but studies evaluating peripheral nervous system involvement are relatively uncommon.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of peripheral nervous system involvement in BD.


METHODS
Sixty-nine BD patients (36 women, 33 men) followed by neurology and dermatology outpatient clinics between October 1999 and October 2004 were enrolled into study. A careful history was taken and physical and neurologic examinations were done. All other medical causes that may be related to peripheral nervous system involvement were studied. All patients underwent nerve conduction studies using standard electrophysiologic procedures.


RESULTS
Peripheral nervous system involvement was detected in 13 patients. There was no sign and symptom related to peripheral nervous system involvement in these patients. Causes other than BD were found in 5 patients with polyneuropathy. Asymptomatic delay in conduction velocities of the median nerves was detected in 3 patients. In 5 patients with clinically evident peripheral nerve involvement due to BD, 3 had sensorimotor and 2 had sensory axonal neuropathies.


CONCLUSIONS
Axonal type polyneuropathy may be seen in BD patients. Peripheral involvement may be detected by electrophysiological examinations in asymptomatic BD patients.
Atasoy
Huseyin Tugrul
HT
Neurology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zonguldak Karaelmas University, Zonguldak, Turkey. tugrul.atasoy@gmail.com
Tunc
Tugba Oruc
TO
Unal
Aysun Eroglu
AE
Emre
Ufuk
U
Koca
Rafet
R
Esturk
Emel
E
Inan
Levent E
LE
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012196:Review Literature as Topic