CLINICAL-FEATURES OF PEDIATRIC BEHCETS-DISEASE

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the clinical features and outcome of Behcet's disease in the pediatric age group. Method: T wenty cases within a pediatric age group whose ages differ from 5 to 1 5 years were studied retrospectively to determine the age of onset, th e initial signs, and the progress of the disease. Results: In 18 of th e patients whose average age were 13.3 years (5 to 18 years), the init ial symptoms associated with Behcet's disease were oral aphtous lesion s or genital ulcers. Among them, 16 developed ocular symptoms in a lat er stage, at an average of 15.5 years of age (11 to 18 years). Posteri or uveitis was the most common manifestation, detected in 75% of the c ases. Three patients had neurobehcet's disease, and the neurologic man ifestations were dural thrombosis, pseudotumor cerebri, and quadripare sis. Conclusions: In this study, after an average 4 years' follow up ( 6 months to 13 years) the clinical progress of Behcet's disease in the pediatric age group was similar to that found in adult disease. Both the ocular signs tie, cataracts and glaucoma) and the systemic feature s tie, aphtous stomatitis, genital ulcers, erythema nodosum, arthritis , and neurologic signs) were manifested at the onset or during the pro gress of the disease.