BEHÇET'S SYNDROME: DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE, CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS AND LABORATORY FINDINGS - A LITERATURE REVIEW (Atena Editora)

Abstract

Behçet's syndrome (DS) is a systemic vasculitis characterized by acute and recurrent inflammation in blood vessels of different sizes. Objective: The current article aimed to provide an updated overview of DS, including its clinical characteristics, associated genetic and environmental factors, diagnostic challenges and potential complications. Methodology: This is a literature review that consisted of a comprehensive search of scientific articles in the PubMed, Lilacs and Medline databases, from 2013 to 2022. Relevant studies were selected that addressed the clinical, etiological and diagnostic aspects of DS. The exclusion method included articles unrelated to DS, studies with different populations or that did not meet the inclusion criteria. Results: This article demonstrated that DS is associated with genetic factors, especially the HLA-B51 allele, and environmental factors such as infections. The most common initial symptoms are recurrent oral and genital ulcers, ocular manifestations, abdominal symptoms and skin lesions. The diagnosis of DS can be challenging due to the variety of clinical manifestations and the overlapping of symptoms with other diseases, such as Crohn's disease and herpes. In addition, DS can cause serious complications, including vascular compromise, such as thrombosis and thrombophlebitis, and involvement of the central nervous system, with high associated mortality rates. Conclusion: This survey emphasizes the importance of an early and accurate diagnosis of DS in order to avoid irreversible and fatal complications. Although the etiology of DS is still not completely understood, the identification of associated genetic and environmental factors can help in the development of more efficient diagnostic strategies.