Multiplele feţe ale bolii Behcet – observaţii asupra unui caz

Abstract

Behcet’s disease is a chronic, inflammatory multisystemic condition of unknown aetiology. It is clinically characterized by recurrent orogenital ulcerations and skin eruptions, ocular manifestations, arthritis, vasculitis and in some cases neurological and large vessel involvement. Aetiology has not been defined, but genetic, environmental, viral, bacterial and immunological factors have been proposed as causative agents. We present the case of a 32-year-old male patient who was admitted to our hospital with fever, recurrent oral and scrotal aphthous ulcerations, erythematous painful nodules on his calves and forearms, arthralgias and superficial migratory thrombophlebitis on the lower limbs. Papulo-pustular lesions were developing on the venous punction on the right forearm. Laboratory investigations showed an elevated ESR and leukocytosis, and the histopathologic examination of a cutaneous biopsy specimen revealed a perivascular neutrophilic inflammatory infiltrate on the upper dermis. Diagnosis of Behcet’s disease was made. Treatment consisted of oral prednisone 1 mg/kgc/day, dapsone 100 mg/day and pentoxiphylline 400 mg/day associated with topical antiseptics and anaesthetics for oral ulcerations, followed by fever remission after 48 hours and oral ulcerations healing after one week.