[Arterial involvement in Behcet's disease: a series of 7 cases]. / Atteinte artérielle au cours de la maladie de Behcet: a propos de 7 cas.

BACKGROUND: Arterial involvement is rarely described in Behcet disease BD and it is associated with poor prognosis. AIM: We report our experience with a rare and interesting subset of Behcet disease patients with arterial involvement: thrombosis and aneurysm formation types of angio-BD. METHODS: From 1994 to 2008, seven cases of arterial BD with 3 aneurysm formation and 4 thrombosis were found amongst BD patients in the department of internal medicine of Habib Thameur Hospital. RESULTS: Combination of venous and arterial manifestations occurred in 4 patients. All patients were male and the mean age when arterial involvement manifested was diagnosed was about 39.3. The artery most often affected is the aorta followed by the pulmonary arteries. Brain infraction occurred in about 4 cases. Pericarditis and neurological symptoms were more frequently noted in patients with arterial BD than others without vasculo-Behcet disease. All patients underwent corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapy. Two patients were successfully operated for aneurysms. All patients were alive after a mean of 7.8 years follow-up. CONCLUSION: Arterial involvement is more frequently noted in vasculo-Behcet than venous thrombosis and it's associated with a high morbidity and mortality rate.

[Venous involvement in Behcet's disease: a series of 28 cases]. / Atteinte veineuse au cours de la maladie de Behcet: a propos de 28 cas.

BACKGROUND: Venous involvement is a rare and severe clinical feature in Behcet disease (BD). AIM: We reported our experience with a rare and interesting subset of BD patients with venous involvement. METHODS: From 1994 to 2008, twenty eight cases of venous BD were found amongst BD patients in the department of internal medicine of Habib Thameur Hospital. RESULTS: 45 episodes of venous thrombosis occurred in 28 patients. There were 25 men and 3 women the mean age when venous involvement manifested was diagnosed was about 32.25. Venous thrombosis occur in the first five years following the diagnosis of BD. Pericarditis was more frequently noted in patients with venous BD than others without vasculo-Behcet disease. In contrast digestive and rheumatologic symptoms were more likely observed in patients without vasculo-Behcet disease. Thirteen patients underwent corticosteroids. Relapses occurred more frequently in patients without corticosteroid therapy. CONCLUSION: Venous involvement is more frequently noted in vasculo-Behcet than arterial involvement. Its treatment should include anticoagulation in association with corticosteroids.