RENAL INVOLVEMENT IN BEHCETS-DISEASE - REVIEW OF 9 CASES

We describe clinical data on 9 patients with Behcet's disease with ren al involvement (8 males, one female) and results of kidney biopsies in 4 patients. Renal involvement occurred in 9 of 120 patients (7.5%) fo llowed at our center. Proteinuria was present in 8 patients (6 with qu antitative 24 h urine protein with a range of 0.32-3.11 g/day, mean 1. 7 g/day); hematuria occurred in one patient. Impaired renal function w as encountered in 2 patients at presentation and in another patient at a later date. Major vascular involvement (major venous and/or arteria l thrombosis) was present in 4 patients and sagittal sinus thrombosis in another patient. Measurement of complement C3, C4, and CH50 and imm unologic tests for anticardiolipin, antineutrophil cytoplasmic, and an tistreptococcal antibodies did not indicate a clear association with r enal involvement. Kidney biopsies were performed in 4 patients. Mesang ial proliferative changes were observed in 3 patients and evidence of immune complex deposition by immunofluorescence and electron microscop ic examination was present in 2 patients, Amyloidosis was present in o ne patient who had vascular involvement and presented with nephrotic r ange proteinuria.