Clinical characteristics and disease activity of Behçet’s disease patients in Zagazig, Egypt

Aim of the workTo study the clinical characteristics and disease activity of Behçet’s disease (BD) in Egyptian patients from Zagazig.Patients and methodsThirty-eight BD patients were recruited from the Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Department, Zagazig University Hospitals. Demographic and clinical data were collected. Disease activity was assessed using Behçet’s Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF).ResultsThirty-eight BD patients were included in this study. Their ages were 31.5 ± 7.1 years (20–44 years) and with disease duration of 6.2 ± 3.5 years (2–12 years). There were 24 males (63.2%) and 14 females (36.8%), with male to female ratio of 1.7:1. The BDCAF was 3.8 ± 1.3 (2–7). The frequency of the clinical manifestations was oral ulcers in 84.2%, followed by genital ulcers in 78.2%, ocular involvement in 73.7%, arthralgia in 26.3%, arthritis in 5.3% especially of the knees and ankles, neurological in 26.3% with headache of the same frequency, blurred vision in 13.2%, difficult hearing in 15.8%, loss of balance in 18.4% and memory loss or impaired cognitive function in 26.3%, pulmonary in 26.3%, gastrointestinal in 10.5% (mostly in the form of nausea and vomiting), cutaneous in 10.5% (erythema nodosum and papulopustular lesions) and none had peripheral vascular disease.ConclusionIn Zagazig, Eastern province, Egypt, there is a male predominance in BD patients as other areas in Egypt, regional and worldwide countries. The clinical characteristics are comparable to other studies. However, in Zagazig the cutaneous manifestations showed the lowest recorded frequency, thrombosis of the extremities was not reported and the patients had a moderately controlled disease activity.