Association between intervertebral disc degeneration and Behçet's disease

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Immunology
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic systemic vasculitis with autoinflammatory and autoimmune features.
• Autoinflammation is increasingly recognized in the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration.
• The connection between BD and disc degeneration requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between Behçet's disease and intervertebral disc degeneration.
• To assess if BD contributes to the progression of spinal disc issues.

Main Methods:

• Eighty-four BD patients with recent neck or low back pain were evaluated.
• Musculoskeletal examination, MRI of cervical and lumbar vertebrae, and serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α were performed.
• Statistical analysis compared patient groups based on pain, disc herniation, and inflammatory markers.

Main Results:

• Cervical and/or lumbar disc herniation was found in 77.3% of the evaluated BD patients.
• Significantly higher mean IL-8 levels were observed in patients with disc herniation and bulging compared to other groups.
• Chronic inflammation associated with BD may be a contributing factor to early disc degeneration.

Conclusions:

• Behçet's disease is associated with a high prevalence of intervertebral disc degeneration.
• Elevated IL-8 levels correlate with disc herniation in BD patients.
• Chronic inflammation in BD may lead to premature onset and progression of disc degeneration and radicular pain.