Behçet's disease, echocardiographers, and cardiac surgeons: together is better

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Rheumatology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Behçet's disease is a rare inflammatory disorder with unknown causes.
• It is characterized by recurrent oral and genital ulcers, uveitis, and skin lesions.
• Cardiac abnormalities, including aortic root dilation, valve regurgitation, thrombi, and pulmonary artery aneurysms, are recognized complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the major cardiac complications associated with Behçet's disease.
• To highlight the importance of recognizing these complications for surgical management.
• To discuss the challenges and specific treatment strategies required for these patients.

Main Methods:

• This is a review article.
• It synthesizes existing literature on cardiac manifestations in Behçet's disease.
• Focuses on complications requiring surgical intervention.

Main Results:

• Cardiac complications such as aortic root dilation, aortic valve regurgitation, intracardiac thrombi, and pulmonary artery aneurysms can occur.
• These findings may appear before other disease symptoms and necessitate surgery.
• Missed diagnosis of Behçet's disease pre-surgery is linked to increased surgical failure, recurrence, and mortality.

Conclusions:

• Cardiac complications are significant in Behçet's disease and require specialized management.
• Timely diagnosis of Behçet's disease is critical for successful surgical intervention.
• Adherence to specific treatment strategies is essential to mitigate risks in patients with Behçet's disease.