The cause of Behçet disease is unknown. The condition probably results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors, most of which have not been identified. However, a particular variation in the HLA-B gene has been associated with the risk of developing Behçet disease.
What do we know about the genetics of Behçet's disease?
Genetic and epigenetic changes affecting cells and molecules involved in Behçet's disease offer new pathways for research, including cytoskeletal protein function, that will provide new targets for therapy, and potentially address the ethnic differences seen in validation of gene studies. Genetics of Behçet's disease Curr Opin Rheumatol.
Is Behçet's disease contagious?
It is believed to be partly genetic. Behçet's is not contagious. Diagnosis is based on at least three episodes of mouth sores in a year together with at least two of the following: genital sores, eye inflammation, skin sores, a positive skin prick test.
What is the prevalence of Behçet syndrome?
The syndrome is rare in the United States, Africa and South America, but is common in the Middle East and Asia, suggesting a possible cause endemic to those areas. A theory suggested that past exposure to lethal infectious agents might have fixed the genetic susceptibility factors to Behçet's disease in those area.
How do previous infections cause Behçet's disease?
Research suggests that previous infections may provoke the autoimmune responses present in Behçet's disease. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are present in some bacteria and serve as a "danger signal" to the immune system.
Does Behcet's get worse with age?
You can live an active life with Behcet's. Your symptoms might get better as you grow older. There may be periods of time when all symptoms disappear. For some, the symptoms get worse over time.
How do you get Behcet's disease?
The cause of Behçet's disease is unknown, although most experts believe it's an autoinflammatory condition. An autoinflammatory condition is where the immune system – the body's natural defence against infection and illness – mistakenly attacks healthy tissue.
Can you have a baby if you have Behcet's disease?
Behçet's Syndrome appears to have mostly little or no detrimental effect on pregnancy; however recent evidence suggests that the rate of miscarriage may be increased.
Does Behcet's affect life expectancy?
Behçet's is a chronic (long-term) disease that can disappear and reappear, no matter the treatment. This can make it difficult to tell how well treatment is working. Most patients with Behçet's will likely deal with symptoms, on and off, for their entire lives. But, most are able to live a full life.
What causes Behcet's to flare up?
Genes, environmental triggers, and an abnormal immune response may be possible causes. It causes symptoms such as mouth sores, genital sores, arthritis, and vision problems. There is no single test for Behcet disease.
How does Behcet's affect the brain?
If the disease involves the central nervous system, it can result in lesions in the brain hemisphere manifesting as aphasia, limb weakness or numbness or it can affect the brainstem causing problems with vision, hearing or, sometimes, change in mental status and respiratory arrest.
What is the best diet for Behcet's disease?
Eating a balanced and varied diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, and avoiding food that contains too much fat or sugar is best for overall health. Some people with the condition have suggested that a sensitivity to certain foods may trigger a flare.
How do you stop Behcet's flare ups?
There's no cure for Behcet's disease. If you have a mild form, your doctor might suggest medications to control the pain and inflammation of flares. You might not need medication between flares....TreatmentSkin creams, gels and ointments. ... Mouth rinses. ... Eyedrops.
Does Behcet's disease cause weight gain?
Patients with Behçet's disease generally suffer from weight loss, malaise and fatigue over the course of the disease.
Does Behcet's disease qualify for disability?
with Behcet's Disease If you have Behcet's Disease and can't work because of the symptoms, you can file a claim for Social Security disability benefits. The only requirements that you must meet are that you have worked in the past and that you expect that you won't be able to work for at least 12 months.
What do behcets sores look like?
The sores are usually round or oval with reddish (erythematous) borders that may occur anywhere within the mouth. They may be shallow or deep and may appear as a single lesion or a cluster of multiple lesions. The sores typically heal within a few days, up to a week or more, without scarring, but frequently recur.
Can Behcet's disease be cured?
There's currently no cure for Behçet's disease, but a number of treatments can help to relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of serious complications.
Can Behcet's disease be cured?
There's currently no cure for Behçet's disease, but a number of treatments can help to relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of serious complications.
What do behcets sores look like?
The sores are usually round or oval with reddish (erythematous) borders that may occur anywhere within the mouth. They may be shallow or deep and may appear as a single lesion or a cluster of multiple lesions. The sores typically heal within a few days, up to a week or more, without scarring, but frequently recur.
What do Behcet's lesions look like?
Painful mouth sores that look similar to canker sores are the most common sign of Behcet's disease. They begin as raised, round lesions in the mouth that quickly turn into painful ulcers. The sores usually heal in one to three weeks, though they do recur.
How do you deal with Behcet's?
There's no cure for Behcet's disease. If you have a mild form, your doctor might suggest medications to control the pain and inflammation of flares. You might not need medication between flares....TreatmentSkin creams, gels and ointments. ... Mouth rinses. ... Eyedrops.
What are the factors that contribute to Behçet disease?
Other genetic and environmental factors likely contribute to the risk of Behçet disease. Researchers are studying several genes related to immune system function. It also appears likely that environmental factors, such as certain bacterial or viral infections, play a role in triggering the disease in people who are at risk. However, the influence of genetic and environmental factors on the development of this complex disorder remains unclear.
What are the symptoms of Behçet disease?
This inflammation most commonly affects small blood vessels in the mouth, genitals, skin, and eyes. Painful mouth sores called aphthous ulcers are usually the first sign of Behçet disease. These sores can occur on the lips, tongue, ...
How long does Behçet disease last?
The features of Behçet disease typically come and go over a period of months or years. In most affected individuals, the health problems associated with this disorder improve with age.
How long does it take for a behçet ulcer to heal?
The ulcers look like common canker sores, and they typically heal within one to two weeks. About 75 percent of all people with Behçet disease develop similar ulcers on the genitals.
What is the HLA B gene?
The HLA-B gene is part of a family of genes called the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex. The HLA complex helps the immune system distinguish the body's own proteins from proteins made by foreign invaders (such as viruses and bacteria).
Is joint involvement common in Behçet disease?
Joint involvement is also common in Behçet disease. Often this affects one joint at a time, with each affected joint becoming swollen and painful and then getting better.
Can uveitis cause blindness?
Uveitis can result in blurry vision and an extreme sensitivity to light (photophobia). Rarely, inflammation can also cause eye pain and redness. If untreated, the eye problems associated with Behçet disease can lead to blindness. Joint involvement is also common in Behçet disease.
What is the genetic risk of Behcet's disease?
Genetic factors are thought to play a role in susceptibility to Behcet's disease, with the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) B-51 gene region of the genome, accounting for about 20 percent of genetic risk for the disease. Researchers have been aware of the HLA B-51 association for about 40 years.
What are the common inflammatory conditions associated with Behcet's disease?
The genetic associations have helped classify Behcet’s disease with more common inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease and a form of spinal arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis. Among the newly identified regions, researchers found:
How many people in Turkey have Behcet's disease?
In some cases, it can be life-threatening, affecting blood vessels in the brain, lungs, and other vital organs. About 1 in 250 people in Turkey have Behcet's disease; others with the disease are found largely in regions along the Silk Road.
Which gene is associated with autoimmune diseases?
An association with the STAT4 gene, in which different variants in the same vicinity of the genome increase risk for autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
What disease was found on the Silk Road?
Researchers have identified four new regions on the human genome associated with Behcet's disease, a painful and potentially dangerous condition found predominantly in people with ancestors along the Silk Road. For nearly 2,000 years, traders used this 4,000-mile network linking the Far East with Europe to exchange goods, culture and, ...
What are the risk factors for Behcet's disease?
Risk factors. Factors that might increase your risk of Behcet's include: Age. Behcet's disease commonly affects men and women in their 20s and 30s, though children and older adults also can develop the condition.
Which countries are most likely to develop Behcet's disease?
People from countries in the Middle East and East Asia, including Turkey, Iran, Japan and China, are more likely to develop Behcet's. Sex. While Behcet's disease occurs in both men and women, the disease is usually more severe in men. Genes.
How do you know if you have Behcet's disease?
Areas commonly affected by Behcet's disease include: Mouth. Painful mouth sores that look similar to canker sores are the most common sign of Behcet's disease.
What is the name of the disease that causes inflammation of the blood vessels?
Overview. Behcet's (beh-CHETS) disease, also called Behcet's syndrome, is a rare disorder that causes blood vessel inflammation throughout your body. The disease can lead to numerous signs and symptoms that can seem unrelated at first.
What is the treatment for Behcet's disease?
Treatment involves medications to reduce the signs and symptoms of Beh cet's disease and to prevent serious complications, such as blindness.
Can Behcet's disease cause blindness?
Complications of Behcet's disease depend on your signs and symptoms. For instance, untreated uveitis can lead to decreased vision or blindness. People with eye signs and symptoms of Behcet's disease need to visit an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) regularly because treatment can help prevent this complication.
Where is Behçet's disease most common?
Behçet's disease is seen all over the world. But it’s most common in Northern Turkey (up to 420 cases per 100,000 people), the Mediterranean basin and Middle East (up to 300 cases per 100,000 people), and the Far East (about 15 cases per 100,000 people). It’s not as common in the United States (about 7 cases per 100,000 people).
What are the factors that contribute to the development of Behçet's disease?
Genetic and environmental factors are both likely factors in the development of Behçet’s disease.
Is HLA B5 a gene marker?
Both HLA-B5 and HLA-B51 are gene markers that are sometimes present in patients with Behçet’s disease. But there are some people who have this gene marker who don’ t have Behçet’s disease.
Can Behçet's disease cause vision loss?
Eye inflammation can cause pain, blurry vision, light sensitivity, tears or eye redness. Behçet's disease may eventually lead to vision loss. Severe eye disease that can cause blindness is more common in the Middle East and Japan than in the United States.
Can Behçet's disease disappear?
Behçet’s is a chronic (long-term) disease that can disappear and reappear, no matter the treatment. This can make it difficult to tell how well treatment is working. Most patients with Behçet’s will likely deal with symptoms, on and off, for their entire lives. But, most are able to live a full life.
Is Behçet's disease inherited?
There’s no clear evidence to suggest Behçet’s disease is an inherited disease. Most cases develop randomly without any family link. While it’s been reported that a small percentage of cases occur in the same family, but there’s no clear inheritance pattern.
Do people with Behçet's disease have a gene marker?
But there are some people who have this gene marker who don’t have Behçet’s disease. Researchers are studying other genes related to immune function and think that infections (either bacteria or a virus) may play a role in triggering the disease in some people who have genetic markers that predispose them to Behçet’s.
What is Behçet's disease?from nei.nih.gov
Behçet’s disease is a rare disorder that damages your blood vessels. This can cause problems in many parts of your body — including your eyes.
Why is it so hard to diagnose Behçet's disease?from nei.nih.gov
It can be hard for doctors to diagnose because symptoms don’t always happen at the same time. There are also other conditions that have similar symptoms. Make sure to tell your doctors — including your eye doctor — if you’re having symptoms of Behçet’s disease.
How will my doctor check for Behçet’s disease?from nei.nih.gov
There’s no single test for Behçet’s disease. People are usually diagnosed based on their symptoms. It can be hard for doctors to diagnose because symptoms don’t always happen at the same time. There are also other conditions that have similar symptoms.
How do you know if you have Behcet's disease?from mayoclinic.org
Areas commonly affected by Behcet's disease include: Mouth. Painful mouth sores that look similar to canker sores are the most common sign of Behcet's disease.
What is the treatment for Behcet's disease?from mayoclinic.org
Treatment involves medications to reduce the signs and symptoms of Beh cet's disease and to prevent serious complications, such as blindness.
What are the symptoms of Behçet's syndrome?from rarediseases.org
Behçet’s syndrome may also affect the eyes. Symptoms may include inflammation of the back of the eye ( posterior uveitis) and inflammation of the anterior chamber (anterior uveitis or iridocyclitis). Inflammation of the iris accompanied by pain, tearing (lacrimation), and the accumulation of pus (hypopyon iritis) may also occur. The retina may become inflamed resulting in blurred vision, abnormal sensitivity to light (photophobia), and/or, inflammation of the thin membranous layer of blood vessels behind the retina (chorioretinitis). Although the lesions that cause inflammation in various parts of the eyes may resolve, repeated recurrences may result in the partial loss of vision (decreased visual acuity) or complete blindness if the disease is uncontrolled. In some cases, eye abnormalities may be the first symptom of Behçet’s syndrome. In other cases, they may not develop until several years later.
What is rare connect?from rarediseases.org
RareConnect offers a safe patient-hosted online community for patients and caregivers affected by this rare disease. For more information, visit www.rareconnect.org.
