Behçet's disease

What is Behçet's disease?

Behçet's disease, also called Behçet syndrome, is a serious long-term condition in which the blood vessels (arteries and veins) are swollen (inflamed) all through the body, including in the eyes. It usually starts in your 20s or 30s, or in childhood.

Behçet's disease is rare in the UK but is more common in people from Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Japan, and Korea.

What causes Behçet's disease?

We don’t know the exact cause of Behçet's disease, but it is classed as an autoimmune disorder. This means that the immune system, which is your defence system for fighting infection, turns on its own body. The risk of getting Behçet's disease may be increased by the combination of having certain genes together with environmental triggers such as infection with a particular virus.

What are the signs and symptoms of Behçet's disease?

Eye problems, mouth or genital ulcers and skin lesions are some of the most common symptoms of Behçet's disease. Symptoms often follow a pattern of flaring up and fading away. More than half of people with the condition have uveitis (inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye).

If there is inflammation at the front of the eye (anterior uveitis) symptoms will include painful, red eyes and being less able to see clearly (poor visual acuity).

Inflammation at the back of the eye (posterior uveitis) doesn’t hurt, but your eyesight will be affected and you may see ‘floaters’, which look like lines or dots moving across your field of view. 

In rare cases, Behçet's disease affects the optic nerve, which sends visual signals from the eye to the brain. This can be sudden, or happen slowly. Symptoms of this include poor colour vision, not being able to see clearly, or a black spot in the middle of the field of view (central scotoma). 

Is Behçet's disease serious?

Behçet's disease is a very serious, sight-threatening condition with no current cure. More than half of people with Behçet's disease have inflammation in the eye (uveitis). About 2 in 10 people with Behçet's disease develop permanent sight loss. It can sometimes cause death. So it's vital to understand much more about the exact cause or causes.

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How is Behçet's disease diagnosed?

Diagnosis of Behçet's disease usually involves a clinical evaluation of symptoms and medical history, but there is no definitive test and it can be difficult to diagnose. An eye doctor should examine your eyes to see how they are affected. 

Blood tests, imaging studies, and sometimes a skin pathergy test (to see if your skin reacts to a needle prick) are used to support the diagnosis. 

What are the treatments for Behçet's disease?

At the moment, the aim of treatment for Behçet's disease is to reduce discomfort and prevent serious complications. There is currently no cure for Behçet's disease. Medications such as corticosteroids can help to suppress the immune system and reduce inflammation.

What research is there into Behçet's disease?

Research into Behçet's disease is focused on understanding the exact cause or causes. We need to know which genetic backgrounds and environmental factors are important and how they cause the disease. This would mean we have a target for developing treatment that could prevent sight loss and save lives.

Fight for Sight's Research Strategy has pledged to spend over 20 million on pioneering eye research over the next five years. If you're personally affected by pterygium and are interested in fundraising to help us fund cutting-edge research in this area find out how to get involved.