title: An update on the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of intestinal Behçet's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This review discusses recent scientific developments in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of intestinal Behçet's disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gastrointestinal involvement is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Behçet's disease. Patient clinical data are scarce because of the rarity of the disease; however, novel diagnostic criteria and disease activity indices have been developed recently to aid treatment of Behçet's disease patients. Current therapies include 5-aminosalicylic acids, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, or antitumor necrosis factor alpha agents. Antitumor necrosis factor alpha agents can achieve clinical responses and remission in patients that were previously nonresponsive to corticosteroids or immunomodulators. Clinical variables, including young age and higher disease activity at the time of diagnosis, volcano-type ulcers, absence of mucosal healing, higher C-reactive protein levels, prior history of surgery, and lack of initial response to medical therapy, can be regarded as poor prognostic factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Previously, the diagnosis and management of intestinal Behçet's disease depended upon the expertise of individual clinicians; however, more standardized medical assessments and improved treatment regimens for Behçet's disease patients are evolving.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cheon
authors.forename: Won Ho
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D019468:Disease Management; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents