AB1494 SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION IN BEHÇET’S DISEASE: IS IT AN OVERLOOKED PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY IN MALE BEHÇET’S PATIENTS?

Abstract

BackgroundBehçet’s disease (BD) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease characterized by oral and urogenital ulcers, ocular, musculoskeletal, vascular, and neurological involvement. Recent evidence suggests that sexual dysfunction (SD) is prevalent in BD patients.ObjectivesWe aimed to determine the frequency of SD in BD and compare the rates of SD in Behçet’s patients with neurological involvement (NBD), Behçet’s patients without neurological involvement (BDWONI) and healthy controls (HC).MethodsAge matched, sexually active 59 BD (17 NBD, 42 BDWONI) patients and 36 HC were recruited. All participants were questioned with Short Form-36, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Golombok-Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), in addition, disease activity has been assessed by Behçet Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF) in all BD patients.ResultsThe rate of SD was higher in BD patients (44.2%) compared to HC (14.2%) (p= 0.003)(Figure 1).Male BD patients had lower sexual function scores compared to male HC. Three parameters of GRISS (premature ejaculation, noncommunication, infrequency) were observed more frequently in male BD patients compared with male HC (6.5 vs 4.7, 3.6 vs 2.0, 3.9 vs 2.4, p< 0.05 for all). The SD rates were comparable between female BD patients and HC. SD rates were similar in BDWONI (44.2%) and NBD (42.8%) groups (p> 0.05). BDCAF score was negatively correlated with IIEF scores of male BD patients (r=-0.437) and positively correlated with GRISS scores of female BD patients (r=0.748) (p< 0.05). There was no relation between SD and depression in BD patients (p= 0.284).ConclusionThe frequency of SD is increased in BD compared to HC and affects males more frequently than females. Premature ejaculation, infrequency and noncommunication are common sexual problems in male BD patients. In conclusion, BD has a negative effect on sexuality and BD patients should be evaluated in terms of SD during follow up.