Peripheral aneurysms in Behcet's disease

ABSTRACT

Behcet's disease is a multisystem inflammatory disorder which may involve the vascular system. In this report, 14 patients with Behcet's disease with a total of 16 periphral aneurysms are presented. All patients were male, ranging in age from 23-50 years. The most common site of aneurysm formation was the femoral artery in 10 patients [71%]. Others include 2 brachial, 1 popliteal, 1 external iliac, 1 peroneal, 1 posterior tibial. Only two patients with known previous history of venous thrombosis and under treatment of Behcet's disease In the other patients [86%] the first presentation was peripheral aneurysm and recurrent scrotal ulceration +/- oral ulceration. Synchronous multiple presentation in one patient and dis-synchronous presentation in other patient We performed interposition vein grafts for11 [8 femoral, 2 brachial and 1 popliteal] and 3 interposition PTFE graft [2 femoral and 1 external iliac]. Simple ligation as initial procedure was done for two [1 peroneal and 1 posterior tibial]. Anastomotic aneurysm developed in 2 patients [14%], secondary haemorrhage ended with A.k amputation in one patient [7%]. Relapse as new aneurysm formation in the aorta in 3 patients [21%] with mortality in two of them [14%]. Behcet's .disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of periphral arterial aneurysm in young person in our population. A combination of corticosteroids and immune-suppression should be considered to control relapses responsible for new aneurysm formation especially in patients presented with multiple aneurysms