Behcet's disease in Israel: The influence of ethnic origin on disease expression and severity

Objective. To evaluate the relationship between ethnic origin and manifesta tions of Behcet's disease (BD) in Israel. Methods. We studied 100 Israeli patients with ED, 66 Jews and 34 Arabs. The 3 largest ethnic groups of Jewish patients originated from Iran/Iraq (n = 21), Turkey (n = 12), and North African countries (n = 21). Patients were e valuated with respect to the entire spectrum of disease manifestations, and a systemic severity score for ED was calculated for each patient, Disease expression was compared between Jewish and Arab patients and among Jewish e thnic groups. Results, There were no statistically significant differences between Jewish and Arab patients with respect to male:female ratio. prevalence of HLA-B5, age of disease onset, or disease duration, Disease expression and severity score were also similar in the 2 groups, but Arab patients had a higher ra te of posterior uveitis (20.6 vs 4.6%; p < 0.03), Among the 3 largest Jewis h ethnic groups, patients of North African origin had a significantly highe r rate of ocular disease (p < 0.01), mainly in the form of anterior uveitis (p < 0.01). These patients also had higher rates of arthritis, overall vas cular disease, deep vein thrombosis, and neuro-Behcet without reaching stat istical significance. The disease severity score in this group was signific antly higher compared to the other Jewish ethnic groups (p < 0.02). Conclusion, The expression of ED is similar in Israeli Jewish and Arab pati ents but the latter have more severe eye. disease. The disease in Israeli J ewish patients is most severe in those originating from North African count ries.