BEHCETS-DISEASE IN SAUDI-ARABIA

Objective. To study the presentation of Behcet's disease (BD) in the S audi population and to determine any differences in clinical manifesta tion and prognosis between men and women. Methods. One hundred ninetee n patients with BD attending the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and R esearch Centre (KFSH & RC) and the King Khalid University Hospital (KK UH) between 1979 and 1992 were studied. Results. The male to female ra tio was 3.4:1. The mean age was 29.3; oral ulcer was present in all th e patients (100%), genital ulcer 87%, ocular involvement 65%, skin man ifestations 57%, and arthritis 37%. Central nervous system involvement was present in 52 patients (44%) of which 12 had benign intracranial hypertension (BICH), pleuropulmonary manifestation 16%, deep venous th rombosis 25%, arterial thrombosis and aneurysm 18%, gastrointestinal m anifestations 4%, and epididymitis 4%. Significant proteinuria was pre sent in 9 patients 7.5%, of whom 3 had renal biopsy. The pathergy test was positive in 15 of 85 (17.5%) patients. HLA-typing was performed f or 85 patients and HLA B5(51) was positive in 61 (72%) patients compar ed with 26% general population. Conclusion. Using the Fisher exact tes t, there was no significant difference in clinical manifestation or pr ognosis comparing men to women.