Main Article Content
BehÇet’s disease in Libya
Abstract
Introduction: Behcet’s Disease (BD) is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory disease characterized by recurrent oral aphthous ulcers and numerous potential systemic manifestations. In Libya, no previous studies were done on BD.
Objective: To study the different clinical manifestations of BD in Libyan patients and compare them with other countries and to compare the behaviour of BD among female and male patients.
Methods: The study was done retrospectively on a cohort of 100 patients with a diagnosis of BD who were registered in our rheumatology clinic in Tripoli Medical Center during the period between 1999 and 2009. The data which were collected from the files of patients included demographic features (such as sex, age at diagnosis and disease duration), different clinical manifestations of the disease which occurred either initially or as a late feature and types of relapses.
Results: One hundred patients enrolled in the study, 71% were male and 29% were female, the ratio of female to male was 1: 2.4. The mean age was 31 years. The prevalence of various clinical manifestations were oral ulcers: 100%; genital ulcers: 81%; skin: 42%; ocular: 35%; vascular: 31%; arthritis: 23%; CNS: 32% and positive pathergy test: 21%. The most common initial manifestations of BD on presentation were oral ulcers: 99% and genital ulcers: 80%. The most common late features which occurred after months to years after diagnosis were recorded in 38 patients (38%), were; CNS: 58%, vascular: 31% and ocular: 21%. Relapses occurred in 62% of patients, the most common types were oral ulcers: 60% and CNS relapses: 35%. Eye involvement occurred in 35% and 34% in male and female respectively (p-value=0.89). CNS involvement occurred in 32% and 31% in male and female respectively (p-value = 0.94). Relapse rate was 59% in male and 69% in female (p-value=0.35).
Conclusions: CNS manifestations are more common among our patients which is similar to other Arab countries (Egypt and Jordan) but significantly more than other countries like Turkey, some European countries (Italy and Germany) and USA. Male and female have similar prevalence of clinical manifestations (CNS, eye and vascular) and similar relapse rates.
Key word: Behcet’s Disease (BD), Central nervous system involvement (CNS), Relapse
Objective: To study the different clinical manifestations of BD in Libyan patients and compare them with other countries and to compare the behaviour of BD among female and male patients.
Methods: The study was done retrospectively on a cohort of 100 patients with a diagnosis of BD who were registered in our rheumatology clinic in Tripoli Medical Center during the period between 1999 and 2009. The data which were collected from the files of patients included demographic features (such as sex, age at diagnosis and disease duration), different clinical manifestations of the disease which occurred either initially or as a late feature and types of relapses.
Results: One hundred patients enrolled in the study, 71% were male and 29% were female, the ratio of female to male was 1: 2.4. The mean age was 31 years. The prevalence of various clinical manifestations were oral ulcers: 100%; genital ulcers: 81%; skin: 42%; ocular: 35%; vascular: 31%; arthritis: 23%; CNS: 32% and positive pathergy test: 21%. The most common initial manifestations of BD on presentation were oral ulcers: 99% and genital ulcers: 80%. The most common late features which occurred after months to years after diagnosis were recorded in 38 patients (38%), were; CNS: 58%, vascular: 31% and ocular: 21%. Relapses occurred in 62% of patients, the most common types were oral ulcers: 60% and CNS relapses: 35%. Eye involvement occurred in 35% and 34% in male and female respectively (p-value=0.89). CNS involvement occurred in 32% and 31% in male and female respectively (p-value = 0.94). Relapse rate was 59% in male and 69% in female (p-value=0.35).
Conclusions: CNS manifestations are more common among our patients which is similar to other Arab countries (Egypt and Jordan) but significantly more than other countries like Turkey, some European countries (Italy and Germany) and USA. Male and female have similar prevalence of clinical manifestations (CNS, eye and vascular) and similar relapse rates.
Key word: Behcet’s Disease (BD), Central nervous system involvement (CNS), Relapse
