Demographic features and clinical aspects of Behçet’s disease in Omani patients

Abstract

Objectives: Behçet’s disease is a chronic, relapsing, multisystem vasculitis of unknown etiology. Few reports support the hypothesis that Behçet’s disease has a primarily hereditary basis. It complicated diversified clinical features predominantly involving oral and genital ulcers, and ocular and cutaneous lesions. The clinical features of this disease have been described to be different according to geographical areas and gender. The objective of the study is to explore the demographic features and clinical aspects of Behçet’s disease in Omani patients and to compare the results with those of various reports in the region. Methods and results: In total, 56 Behçet’s disease patients were recruited, and clinical data parameters were recorded including age, sex, age at diagnosis, duration of symptoms till diagnosis, disease characteristics such as oral and genital ulcers, ocular manifestations, the presence of arthritis, and cutaneous lesions such as papulopustular lesions and erythema nodosum. Furthermore, other systemic involvement was studied including gastrointestinal, neurological, renal, and vascular manifestations. Laboratory tests of Behçet’s disease and treatment used were recorded in each patient. The onset was between 6 and 74 years with a male predominance. Oral ulcers were the most common manifestation, followed by genital ulcers, ocular lesions, and arthritis. Vascular lesions and gastrointestinal manifestations were less common. Cutaneous manifestations were rare in patients with Behçet’s disease. The frequency of neurological involvement was significantly high. There were no reported cardiac or urogenital manifestations. Conclusion: Behçet’s disease’s demographic features and clinical aspects in Omani patients showed quite significant geographical and gender differences which are comparable to other data in the area.