Changing clinical expression of Behçet disease in Korea during three decades (1983–2012): chronological analysis of 3674 hospital-based patients

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Behçet disease (BD) is a chronic multisystemic vasculitis affecting blood vessels of any calibre or type. Recent evidence suggests that the clinical expression of BD is lessening. OBJECTIVES: To examine the clinical expression of BD in Korea during the past three decades via a large patient registry. METHODS: Initial manifestations of patients with BD seen at a tertiary referral hospital between 1983 and 2012 were reviewed retrospectively, stratifying patients by decade to compare epidemiological data and cardinal symptoms. RESULTS: In total 3674 patients with BD were reviewed. Significant proportional declines occurred with respect to male sex, complete type BD and major presenting features (genital ulcers, ocular involvement and skin lesions), whereas the mean patient age rose progressively, as did the frequencies of joint, gastrointestinal and central nervous system manifestations (all P < 0·0001). CONCLUSIONS: During the past three decades, clinical expression of BD in Korea has changed, resulting in fewer instances of complete type disease, declining male propensity, and shifting patterns of organ involvement.