Behcet's Disease
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What is Behcet's Disease?
Is there any treatment?
What is the prognosis?
What research is being done?
Organizations
Additional resources from MEDLINEplus
What is Behcet's Disease?
Behcet's disease is a rare, chronic inflammatory disorder. The cause of Behcet's disease is unknown, although there have been
reports of a virus found in some individuals with the disease. Behcet's disease generally begins when individuals are in their
20s or 30s, although it can happen at any age. It tends to occur more often in men than in women. Symptoms of Behcet's disease
include recurrent ulcers in the mouth (resembling canker sores) and on the genitals, and eye inflammation. The disorder may
also cause various types of skin lesions, arthritis, bowel inflammation, meningitis (inflammation of the membranes of the
brain and spinal cord), and cranial nerve palsies. Behcet's is a multi-system disease; it may involve all organs and affect
the central nervous system, causing memory loss and impaired speech, balance, and movement.
The effects of the disease may include blindness, stroke, swelling of the spinal cord, and intestinal complications. The disease is common in Japan, Turkey and Israel, and less common in the United States.
Is there any treatment?
What is the prognosis?
What research is being done?
Select this link to view a list of studies currently seeking patients.
American Behcet's Disease Association P.O. 19952 Amarillo, TX 79114 brivas@behcets.com http://www.behcets.com Tel: 800-7-BEHCETS (723-4238) |
National Eye Institute (NEI) National Institutes of Health, DHHS 31 Center Drive, Rm. 6A32 MSC 2510 Bethesda, MD 20892-2510 2020@nei.nih.gov http://www.nei.nih.gov Tel: 301-496-5248 |
National Institute of Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) National Institutes of Health, DHHS 31 Center Dr., Rm. 4C02 MSC 2350 Bethesda, MD 20892-2350 NIAMSinfo@mail.nih.gov http://www.niams.nih.gov Tel: 301-496-8190 877-22-NIAMS (226-4267) |
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial
Research (NIDCR) National Institutes of Health, DHHS 31 Center Drive, Room 5B-55 Bethesda, MD 20892 nidcrinfo@mail.nih.gov http://www.nidcr.nih.gov Tel: 301-496-4261 |
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) P.O. Box 1968 (55 Kenosia Avenue) Danbury, CT 06813-1968 orphan@rarediseases.org http://www.rarediseases.org Tel: 203-744-0100 Voice Mail 800-999-NORD (6673) Fax: 203-798-2291 |
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Last updated February 12, 2007