The Mucocutaneous Manifestations and Pathergy Reaction in Behçet Syndrome

The original description of Behcet syndrome (BS) in 1937 by Hulusi Behcet was a trisymptom complex of recurrent oral ulcerations, genital ulcerations, and uveitis [1]. Hulusi Behcet had also reported the presence of acneiform symptoms, folliculitis, erythema nodosum, thrombophlebitis, as well as hemoptysis. It has since been recognized that BS is a systemic vasculitis, mainly involving the venous side of the circulation and affecting many organ systems [2]. The cardinal features of the disease occur on the mucous membranes and skin, and in some patients the diagnosis can be made clinically only on the basis of mucocutaneous findings. Patients exhibiting the myriad of mucocutaneous symptoms all at the same time are rare. It is very important to recognize the mucocutaneous lesions in BS by inspection and make a differential diagnosis with similar lesions.