A comparison of adult and juvenile Behcet patients and a look at clinical trends: Retrospective data from a Turkish follow-up cohort study


BOYVAT A., ÖKTEM A., YILDIZHAN İ., ATEŞ A., YALÇINDAĞ F. N., Koksoy C., ...More

DERMATOLOGY, no.6, pp.958-965, 2023 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1159/000534316
  • Journal Name: DERMATOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, EMBASE, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, MEDLINE
  • Page Numbers: pp.958-965
  • Ankara University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Background: Previous reports indicate that juvenile Behcet's disease (BD) may have a different course than adult BD. However, as a direct comparison with adult Behcet patients has only been made in a limited number of studies, the issue is still controversial. Objectives: The primary aim of our study is to compare clinical manifestations in a large cohort of juvenile and adult Behcet patients registered in a single centre. The secondary aim of our study is to compare the data of newly diagnosed patients registered between 1998-2020 with the data of those registered between 1976-1997. Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from medical records of patients registered between 1998 and 2020. Juvenile BD was defined as fulfilment of ICBD at or before 16 years of age. Results: A similar course of disease was noted in juvenile and adult Behcet patients with no significant difference in the frequency of mucocutaneous findings, major organ involvement, and positivity of the pathergy test. A comparison of the periods, 1976- 1997 and 1998-2020, revealed no significant difference in the prevalence of mucocutaneous lesions and major organ involvement. Conclusions: Our results indicate that juvenile and adult Behcet patients have a similar course with a similar frequency of clinical manifestations. Contrary to reports suggesting an overall tendency to milder disease, no decrease in the risk of major organ involvements was observed. A significant trend towards a decline in pathergy test positivity was noted.