The arthritis of Behçet's disease: a prospective study

• Published in: Annals of the rheumatic diseases 1983-10, Vol.42 (5), p.505-515
• Main Authors: Yurdakul, S, Yazici, H, Tüzün, Y, Pazarli, H, Yalçin, B, Altaç, M, Ozyazgan, Y, Tüzüner, N, Müftüoğlu, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Arthritis - complications; Arthritis - diagnostic imaging; Arthritis - physiopathology; Arthrography; Behcet Syndrome - complications; Behcet Syndrome - physiopathology; Blood Sedimentation; Female; HLA Antigens - analysis; HLA-B Antigens; Humans; Joints - physiopathology; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Synovial Fluid - cytology
• ISSN: 0003-4967; 1468-2060
• DOI: 10.1136/ard.42.5.505

A prospective study of arthritis was performed in 47 patients with Behçet's disease followed up over a 47-month period (mean 19.25 months, SD 14.09). These patients had a total of 80 episodes of arthritis, which were analysed for joint distribution and symmetry, in 56 of which the duration could also be determined. Attacks were oligoarticular, affecting up to 4 joints per patient, 54 (68%) being monoarticular. Knees, ankles, and wrists were the most commonly involved joints. Involvement of spinal, shoulder, hip, and sacroiliac joints was rare. The arthritis was usually not deforming and subacute; 82% (46/56) of the attacks lasted for 2 months or less and 18% (10/56) for between 3 months and 4 years. The ESR was moderately elevated during the attacks. In 32 specimens the synovial fluid was inflammatory (cell count 14.7 +/- 10.1 x 10(9)/l), but in 19 (59%) a good mucin clot formed. Synovial biopsy in 12 patients revealed superficial ulceration, paucity of plasma cells, and in 5 instances lymphoid follicle formation.