Behçet's disease with severe destructive arthritis.

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Systemic Autoimmune Diseases

Background:

• Behçet's disease is a multisystemic inflammatory disorder.
• Commonly presents with oral aphthae, genital ulcers, and ocular lesions.
• Arthritis is a frequent manifestation, but severe joint destruction is rare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of Behçet's disease with severe destructive arthritic changes.
• To contribute to understanding the spectrum of joint involvement in Behçet's disease.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 52-year-old female patient.
• Review of patient history spanning 30 years, including recurrent oral aphthae, genital ulcerations, and intestinal lesions.
• Clinical observation of the onset and progression of polyarthritis and destructive arthritic changes.

Main Results:

• The patient exhibited a 30-year history of Behçet's disease symptoms.
• Developed significant morning stiffness and polyarthritis around age 30.
• Showcased progressive, destructive arthritic changes in bilateral fingers, wrists, and left ankle.

Conclusions:

• Severe destructive arthritis is an exceptionally rare complication of Behçet's disease.
• The underlying mechanisms for such severe joint involvement remain unclear.
• This case underscores the potential for significant musculoskeletal morbidity in Behçet's disease.