Researchers Analyze Ocular Manifestations of Behcet Disease

Ocular manifestations, particularly uveitis, were found to be somewhat more prevalent among patients with childhood-onset Behçet disease (BD) but the differences between adult and pediatric patients was not statistically significant, nor was the geographical distribution, researchers reported.

The investigators conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 51 published studies of BD that included reports of ocular manifestations and enrolled at least 20 patients. They found among patients with childhood-onset BD, 27% had posterior uveitis, while 18% were diagnosed with anterior uveitis. Among the adults, 25% evidenced posterior uveitis, 23% had anterior uveitis, and 16% had retinal vasculitis.

“When comparing the distribution of OC in Behcet’s disease in adults, there was geographic variation where OC were higher in Turkey and the Middle East (42%), followed by Europe and North America (36%), North Africa (26%), and East Asia (25%) but not significantly (p=0.27),” the researchers wrote.

--Rebecca Mashaw

Reference:

Turk MA, Hayworth JL, Nevskaya T, Pope JE. Ocular manifestations of Behçet's disease in children and adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2021;39 Suppl 132(5):94-101.