Behçet's disease and treatment with colchicine

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Ophthalmology
• Gastroenterology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Behçet's disease is a rare multisystemic inflammatory disorder.
• It commonly presents with oral ulcers, genital ulcers, skin lesions, and uveitis.
• Gastrointestinal involvement and less common complications can also occur.

Observation:

• A patient presented with a 10-month history of Behçet's disease.
• Clinical features included anterior uveitis, arthritis, oral/genital/cutaneous lesions, and gastrointestinal involvement.
• Less common manifestations like pyoderma gangrenosum, hidradenitis suppurativa, perianal fistula, and persistent leukocytosis were noted.

Findings:

• Treatment with low-dose oral colchicine (0.6 mg twice daily) for 5 weeks led to remission.
• Cutaneous lesions resolved, and ocular and gastrointestinal symptoms did not recur.

Implications:

• This case demonstrates the efficacy of colchicine in managing complex Behçet's disease presentations.
• Early recognition and treatment of less common complications are crucial for patient outcomes.
• Colchicine offers a potential therapeutic option for refractory or complex cases of Behçet's disease.