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Clinicodemographic Data of Patients with Behçet's Disease: Data from a Tertiary Center in Saudi Arabia
Yasser Bawazir1, Mohammad Mustafa2
1Department of Medicine Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
This study on Behçet
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Internal Medicine
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Behçet's disease (BD) is a rare, chronic, multisystemic inflammatory vasculitis.
- Characterized by a heterogeneous spectrum of clinical features and geographical distribution.
- Understanding BD demographics and clinical features is crucial for management.
Purpose of the Study:
- Analyze demographic and clinical characteristics of BD patients.
- Identify associations between clinical/laboratory findings and disease severity.
- Provide insights into BD patient profiles at King Abdulaziz University Hospital.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of adult BD patients (2005-2023).
- Inclusion based on International Criteria for Behçet's Disease or International Study Group criteria.
- Data collected from rheumatology clinic at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Saudi Arabia.
Main Results:
- 81 BD patients identified: 51.9% male, 48.1% female, 75.3% Saudi nationals.
- Common manifestations: oral ulcerations (56.8%), genital ulcerations (37%), uveitis (24.7%), arthritis (22.2%).
- Significant associations found between demographic factors, laboratory markers (HDL, Hb, CRP, albumin), and BMI with specific lab values.
Conclusions:
- Demographic factors significantly influence BD patient characteristics.
- Laboratory parameters show significant associations with BD activity and patient profiles.
- Findings highlight the interplay between demographics, labs, and disease presentation in BD.
Introduction:
Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic inflammatory vasculitis involving the arteries and veins. This study was driven by the rarity, chronic multisystemic nature, and heterogeneous spectrum of clinical features and geographical distribution. This study aimed to analyze the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with BD at the King Abdulaziz University Hospital and identify the association between clinical and laboratory findings and disease severity.
Methods:
The study was a retrospective core chart review. This study included adult patients who visited the rheumatology clinic of King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Saudi Arabia between 2005 and 2023. The inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years and a diagnosis of Behçet's disease (BD) based on either the International Criteria for Behçet's Disease or the International Study Group classification criteria.
Results:
In total, 81 patients with BD with almost equal male (51.9%) and female (48.1%) distribution, 75.3% Saudi nationals, mean onset age of 38.48 years, and mean body mass index of 27.57 kg/m2 were identified. The most common clinical manifestations were oral ulcerations (56.8%), genital ulcerations (37%), uveitis (24.7%), arthritis (22.2%), skin lesions (13.6%), and deep vein thrombosis (9.88%). Significant differences in high-density lipoprotein, hemoglobin, Creactive protein, and albumin levels were associated with the age, sex, and nationality of the patients, respectively. Similarly, body mass index was significantly associated with C-reactive protein (p = 0.004), alanine aminotransferase (p = 0.023), aspartate aminotransferase (p = 0.003), and gamma-glutamyl aminotransferase (p = 0.034) levels.
Discussion:
The observed clinical and demographic patterns align with regional and global data, though a slightly older age at onset and high BMI prevalence were noted. Associations between BMI and inflammatory or hepatic markers suggest a possible metabolic influence on disease activity. Laboratory differences across demographic subgroups emphasize the need for individualized disease assessment. These insights can inform tailored care strategies for BD patients in the Saudi context.
Conclusion:
This study demonstrated that there are significant associations between demographic factors, laboratory parameters, and BD activity.
