Visual System in Some Systemic Diseases

Abstract

Behçet’s disease was initially described by a Turkish dermatologist, Behçet, in 1937 as a triad of oral ulcers, genital ulcers and hypopyon uveitis and it has subsequently been confirmed in the medical literature.¹ Oral ulcers are the most common clinical feature. They are recurrent and painful, ranging from 2 mm to 12 mm in size, often coming in crops. The genital ulcerations have similar features, but are less often diagnosed.^1,2 The skin disease can be erythema nodosum, superficial thrombophlebitis, pyoderma, or a phenomenon called pathergy, which is defined as the presence of a pustule after breaking of the skin by a needle, such as in blood drawing. The arthritis is an asymmetric, nondeforming, large joint polyarthritis that is frequently steroid responsive. Cardiac involvement and central nervous system disease have been reported.³ Vascular disease is common and can present as a migratory superficial thrombophlebitis, major vessel thrombosis, superior and inferior vena cava syndrome, arterial thrombosis, aortic aneurysm or even peripheral gangrene.^2–4 Familial occurrences and platelet disturbances have been cited as important predisposing factors in the pathogenesis of Behçet’s disease.^5–8