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Deep vein thrombosis in Behçet's disease
M H Houman1, I Ben Ghorbel, I Khiari Ben Salah
1Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital La Rabta, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia. houman.habib@rns.tn
Insights
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) affects nearly 40% of Behçet's disease (BD) patients, predominantly males. Male gender and a positive pathergy test are significant risk factors for DVT in BD.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Vascular Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Behçet's disease (BD) is a multisystem inflammatory disorder.
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a known complication of BD, but its epidemiological and clinical features require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of DVT in patients with Behçet's disease.
- To identify risk factors associated with DVT in BD patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 113 BD patients classified by international criteria.
- DVT diagnosis confirmed via conventional venous angiography, ultrasonography, and/or CT scans.
- Analysis of clinical and genetic factors, including HLA B51 and MICA 6, comparing patients with and without DVT.
Main Results:
- 38.9% of BD patients (44/113) experienced DVT, with 81 total localizations.
- DVT occurred a mean of 3.8 years after BD onset; in 6 cases, DVT preceded BD diagnosis.
- Significant positive correlations found between DVT and male gender, and a positive pathergy test.
Conclusions:
- DVT occurrence in BD is significantly associated with male gender.
- A positive pathergy test is also a significant risk factor for DVT in Behçet's disease patients.
Objective:
We aimed to describe the epidemiological and clinical aspects of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in Behçet's disease (BD) and to determine the patients at high risk for this complication.
Methods:
Among 113 patients with BD according to the international criteria for classification of BD, those with DVT were retrospectively studied. The diagnosis of DVT was made in all cases using conventional venous angiography, venous ultrasonography and/or thoracic or abdominal computed tomography. Patients were divided in two subgroups according to the occurrence of DVT other than cerebral thromboses. The medical records of these patients were reviewed in order to investigate their past medical history and evaluate their response to the treatment prescribed. Clinical and genetic factors (HLA B51 and MICA 6) that might contribute to DVT were analysed by comparing patients with and without DVT. Results of our series were compared to those of other series in the literature. Statistical analysis was by Chi square with necessary correction and Fischer tests.
Results:
Forty-four patients (38.9%) had deep vein thrombosis of various systems with 81 localisations. There were 40 men and four women (mean age 28.1 years; range 17-60). DVT appeared after the onset of disease with a mean delay of 3.8 years. In 6 cases, DVT revealed BD. When we evaluated the risk of DVT coexistence with other clinical findings and genetic factors (HLA B51 and MICA 6), we found a significant positive correlation with sex, and positive pathergy test.
Conclusion:
In our series, occurrence of DVT was significantly associated with male gender and positive pathergy test.