Neurologic manifestations of Behçet disease: rheumatology experience.

Objective: Neurologic involvement in Behçet disease (BD) is a rare manifestation. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the clinical features and treatment choices of neuro-Behçet (NB) patients.

Methods: There were records of 800 BD patients between 1998 and 2021. Fifty-five of the BD patients had NB and the files of these patients were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were grouped into three subgroups: 22 (40%) had non-parenchymal, 25 (45%) had parenchymal, and 8 (15%) had both parenchymal and non-parenchymal (mixed) involvement.

Results: Of the 55 patients, 32 were male. Twenty-six of the NB patients were diagnosed with BD simultaneously. The most common complaint was headache (n = 24, 44%). The most affected site was periventricular white matter (n = 21, 38%). All patients had received corticosteroids. Azathioprine (AZA; n = 39, 71%) was the most common immunosuppressive agent after corticosteroids, followed by cyclophosphamide (n = 16, 29%).

Conclusion: Neurologic involvement is a rare complication of BD but is related to increased mortality and morbidity. Neurologic manifestations may be the initial symptom of BD, thus leading to diagnosis. Both neurology and rheumatology specialists should be aware of this rare condition.