Male patients with Behçet's syndrome have stronger pathergy reactions.

The effects of patient's sex and age at onset on the pathergy reaction (cutaneous hypersensitivity to a needle prick) and its correlation with disease activity in Behcet's syndrome was investigated by two independent observers in a blind protocol. Among 92 male patients the pathergy reaction was more strongly positive (p less than 0.025) than among 67 female patients of similar age and disease duration.