Medicina (Mar 2024)

Behçet’s Disease, Pathogenesis, Clinical Features, and Treatment Approaches: A Comprehensive Review

  • Salvatore Lavalle,
  • Sebastiano Caruso,
  • Roberta Foti,
  • Caterina Gagliano,
  • Salvatore Cocuzza,
  • Luigi La Via,
  • Federica Maria Parisi,
  • Christian Calvo-Henriquez,
  • Antonino Maniaci

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60040562
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 60, no. 4
p. 562

Abstract

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Behçet’s disease is a systemic inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology. The disease manifests with diverse clinical symptoms, most commonly recurrent oral and genital ulcers, skin lesions, and uveitis, though it can affect multiple organ systems. Diagnosis is primarily clinical due to the lack of a definitive diagnostic test, and management involves a multidisciplinary approach to control inflammation and manage symptoms. Current treatment strategies involve corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents, and, increasingly, biological therapies. Behçet’s disease exhibits a higher prevalence along the Silk Road, suggesting a role of environmental and genetic factors. Despite significant progress in understanding its clinical characteristics and treatment approaches, gaps remain in our understanding of its pathogenesis. Future research is needed to elucidate the disease’s pathophysiology and optimize treatment strategies.

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