Demographic and clinical characteristics of Behçet’s disease in Iraqi patients

Introduction
Behçet’s disease (BD) is a chronic autoimmune multisystemic vasculitic disease. This study investigated the demographic and clinical characteristics of BD in Iraqi patients.

Material and methods
This descriptive observational study involved a total of 71 consecutive patients with BD diagnosed according to the International Study Group criteria 1990 for BD at the rheumatology unit. Demographic features, clinical characteristics, and medications used by the patients were recorded.

Results
The mean age of patients was 36.0 ±10.8 years with disease duration of 5.1 ±6.0 years. There were 45 (63.4%) males and 26 (36.6%) females, BD activity score was 5.1 ±6.0. Mucosal manifestations were present in 71 (100%) patients, ocular involvement in 62 (87.3%), articular involvement in 51 (71.8%), skin involvement in 48 (67.6%), myalgia in 16 (22.5%), neurological in 9 (12.7%), vascular in 3 (4.2%) patients, and gastrointestinal involvement in 1 (1.4%) patient. The most commonly used treatment in this study was colchicine in 41 (57.7%) followed by infliximab in 34 (47.9%), corticosteroids in 32 (45.1%), azathioprine in 19 (26.8%), adalimumab in 3 (4.2%), cyclosporine in 2 (2.8%), sulphasalazine in 2 (2.8%), and methotrexate in 2 (2.8%).

Conclusions
BD showed a higher male predominance in Iraq. Mucosal involvement was the most common clinical feature, followed by ocular involvement and then articular manifestations. The most commonly used treatment was colchicine followed by infliximab and corticosteroids. These findings suggest that early diagnosis and treatment are important to prevent disease complications.