Behcet's Syndrome

Originally described in the Middle East, Behcet's syndrome is a relapsing condition of unknown aetiology and is an inflammatory process, sometimes a vasculitis, that affects many areas, including mucosal surfaces.

Oral and genital ulcers are common and identify the condition. The patient, more often a male in his third decade, may present with fever. Eye problems ( uveitis and retinitis ) are also typical, but may present a little later as may a meningo-encephalitis with plaques of demyelination. The associated colitis has typically deep discrete ulcers.

Less common associations are erthythema nodosum, thrombophlebitis migrans, and arthritis.