Juvenile Behçet's disease 2014-2024: multicenter study in Colombia

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Pediatrics
• Immunology

Background:

• Juvenile Behçet's disease (JBD) is a rare, multisystem inflammatory disorder affecting children under 16.
• It presents with diverse symptoms including oral/genital ulcers, and can lead to severe complications like thrombosis and neurological damage.
• Underreporting and diagnostic delays are significant challenges in managing JBD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the clinical characteristics and diagnostic challenges of JBD in Colombia.
• To analyze the time to diagnosis and treatment patterns for JBD in Colombian children.
• To inform clinical awareness and management strategies for JBD.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter, retrospective longitudinal study was conducted.
• Data from 15 pediatric patients diagnosed with JBD between 2014-2024 in three Colombian cities were analyzed.
• Clinical and paraclinical data were extracted from medical records and statistically analyzed.

Main Results:

• The study included 15 patients (60% female) with a mean diagnostic delay of 5.7 years.
• Common manifestations included oral aphthosis (100%), genital ulcers (73.3%), arthralgia (60%), and neurological (40%) involvement.
• Vascular involvement (20%), primarily venous thrombosis, was noted. Pathergy test was positive in 44.4% and viral antigens detected in 46.7%.

Conclusions:

• JBD in Colombia exhibits heterogeneous clinical features, particularly mucocutaneous, musculoskeletal, and neurological symptoms.
• A significant diagnostic delay highlights the need for heightened clinical suspicion in pediatric cases.
• While colchicine and corticosteroids are initial treatments, most patients require immunosuppressants or biologics for effective management.