Behçet’s Disease

About Behçet’s Disease

Behçet’s disease is a rare inflammatory condition affecting the vasculature in multiple bodily systems. The cause of Behçet’s disease is undetermined, but some researchers believe it is an autoimmune condition, meaning that symptoms result from your body’s immune system mistakenly attacking healthy tissue.

Symptoms of Behçet’s Disease

In Behçet’s disease, symptoms often come and go in a cycle of attacks and remissions.

Symptoms of Behçet’s disease may include:

• Blood in stool
• Headache
• Impaired balance
• Inflammation in the eyes
• Joint swelling and pain
• Sores on skin, mouth, and/or genitals

Risk Factors for Behçet’s Disease

Once researchers determine the cause of Behçet’s disease, risk factors associated with the condition will become more clear.

Risk factors for Behçet’s disease may include:

• Age: The condition typically affects people between the ages of 20 and 40.
• Family history: Certain genes are associated with Behçet’s disease although researchers are unsure if the condition is inherited.
• Personal history: Behçet’s disease is most common among people living in the Middle East and East Asia.
• Sex: The condition is more common in male patients.

Treating Behçet’s Disease at UT Health Austin

Inflammation associated with Behçet’s disease can be treated with corticosteroids such as prednisone. You may also be prescribed medicines that suppress or alter your body’s immune responses.

Care Team Approach

At UT Health Austin, we take a multidisciplinary approach to your care. This means you will benefit from the expertise of multiple specialists across a variety of disciplines caring for you in one place. The Vasculitis Clinic care team includes rheumatologists, nurses, and medical assistants who work together to help you get back to the things in your life that matter most to you.

We collaborate with our colleagues at the Dell Medical School and The University of Texas at Austin to utilize the latest research, diagnostic, and treatment techniques, allowing us to develop the best treatment plan for you. Advanced imaging and lab testing are also available on-site if needed, including computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).