Behçet's syndrome: ocular features in an Australian population

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Rheumatology
• Immunology

Background:

• Inflammatory eye disease (IED) is a severe manifestation of Behçet's syndrome (BS).
• BS is a common cause of uveitis in Mediterranean regions, the Middle East, and Japan.
• Prevalence of BS-related IED in Australia is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of Behçet's syndrome (BS) among patients with inflammatory eye disease (IED) in Australia.
• To describe the clinical features and visual outcomes of ocular inflammation in Australian BS patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 426 patients with inflammatory eye disease attending a uveitis clinic over five years.
• Diagnosis of definite Behçet's syndrome based on established criteria.
• Analysis of ocular manifestations, including anterior/posterior uveitis, retinal vasculitis, and optic neuritis.

Main Results:

• Twelve out of 426 patients (2.8%) had definite Behçet's syndrome.
• Ocular manifestations included anterior uveitis, posterior uveitis, retinal vasculitis, and optic neuritis.
• IED was the presenting feature leading to diagnosis in most cases, characterized by severity, recurrence, and significant vision loss.

Conclusions:

• Behçet's syndrome is a rare cause of IED in Australia.
• Ocular involvement is crucial for diagnosing BS, often preceding other systemic features.
• Visual prognosis for ocular inflammation in BS is guarded, even with immunosuppressive therapy.