eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Reactive & Inflammatory Dermatoses

Behcet Disease: Follow-up

Author: Marjan Yousefi, MD, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Coauthor(s): Tammie Ferringer, MD, Teaching Staff, Departments of Dermatology and Pathology, Geisinger Medical Center; Sungnack Lee, MD, Vice President of Medical Affairs, Professor, Department of Dermatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Korea; Dongsik Bang, MD, PhD, Vice Director, Severance Hospital; Professor, Department of Dermatology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Korea
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Jun 19, 2009

Follow-up

Prognosis

  • The clinical course of Behçet disease is variable, even in the early stages, making determinations of the long-term prognosis difficult.
  • Men appear to have a poorer prognosis.
  • The disease usually runs a protracted course, with attacks generally lasting for several weeks and recurring more frequently early in the disease.
  • Mucocutaneous and arthritic involvement usually occur early.
  • Chronic morbidity is usual; the leading cause is ophthalmic involvement, which can result in blindness. The effects of the disease may be cumulative, especially for neurologic, vascular, and ocular involvement.
  • Mortality is low, but patients may die from neurologic involvement, vascular disease, bowel perforation, cardiopulmonary disease, or as a complication of immunosuppressive therapy.

Patient Education

 
Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author, Eun-So Lee, MD, PhD, to the development and writing of this article.



More on Behcet Disease

Overview: Behcet Disease
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Behcet Disease
Treatment & Medication: Behcet Disease
Follow-up: Behcet Disease
Multimedia: Behcet Disease
References
Further Reading
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Keywords

Behcet disease, Behcet's disease, Behçet disease, Behcet's disease, Behcet syndrome, Behcet's syndrome, oral aphthous ulcer, genital ulcer, uveitis, oral aphthae, oral ulcers, canker sores

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Marjan Yousefi, MD, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Marjan Yousefi, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Tammie Ferringer, MD, Teaching Staff, Departments of Dermatology and Pathology, Geisinger Medical Center
Tammie Ferringer, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, and American Society of Dermatopathology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Sungnack Lee, MD, Vice President of Medical Affairs, Professor, Department of Dermatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Korea
Sungnack Lee, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Dermatological Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Dongsik Bang, MD, PhD, Vice Director, Severance Hospital; Professor, Department of Dermatology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Korea
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

David P Fivenson, MD, Associate Director, St Joseph Mercy Hospital Dermatology Program, Ann Arbor, Michigan
David P Fivenson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Medical Dermatology Society, Michigan Dermatological Society, Michigan State Medical Society, Photomedicine Society, Society for Investigative Dermatology, and Wound Healing Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

David F Butler, MD, Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Dermatology, Director, Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic, Northside Clinic
David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Warren R Heymann, MD, Head, Division of Dermatology, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
Warren R Heymann, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, and Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Catherine Quirk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Brown University
Catherine Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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