Nutritional Status in patients with Neuro-Behçet's disease

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Neurology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Behçet's disease (BD) is a multisystem inflammatory disorder.
• Neuro-Behçet's disease (NBD) involves neurological complications of BD.
• Nutritional status is crucial for managing chronic inflammatory diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate nutritional status in BD and NBD patients.
• To identify risk factors for malnutrition in NBD.
• To compare malnutrition rates between BD, NBD, and control groups.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 74 BD without neurological involvement (BDWoNI), 72 NBD, and 50 control patients.
• Serum analyses performed during the inactive disease period.
• Chronic malnutrition defined by low serum albumin with normal inflammatory markers.

Main Results:

• Malnutrition was significantly higher in NBD (8.3%) compared to BDWoNI (1.4%) and controls (0%).
• NBD patients with malnutrition had a higher ratio of progressive disease course (33.3% vs 7.6%).
• Shorter duration of neurological involvement was observed in malnourished NBD patients (2 vs 6.5 years).

Conclusions:

• Malnutrition is more prevalent in NBD patients.
• Higher disability and disease progression are potential risk factors for malnutrition in NBD.
• Malnutrition may occur earlier in the course of neurological involvement in NBD.