Treatment strategies for Behçet's disease.
BACKGROUND
Behçet's disease (BD) is a multisytemic vasculitis characterized by oral and genital ulceration, other skin lesions, uveitis and manifestations affecting the blood vessels, CNS and gastrointestinal system. It is rare in the Western world but is frequent in the Middle and Far East.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this review is to discuss treatment strategies in BD. These might vary between simple reassurance and a combination of immunosuppressives.


METHODS
A systematic literature search was done using the Cochrane and Medline databases in June 2008. The EULAR recommendations for the management of BD were also taken into account.


CONCLUSIONS
The last two decades have witnessed considerable improvement in eye disease and musculoskeletal involvement. However, the treatment of thrombophlebitis, CNS, and gastrointestinal manifestations remains problematic.
Fresko
Izzet
I
Department of Rheumatology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Cerrahpasa Tip Fakultesi, Ic Hastaliklari ABD, 34300 Aksaray, Istanbul, Turkey. izzetfresko@yahoo.com
Yazici
Hasan
H
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents