Behçet's Disease

Description

A rare disorder that causes chronic inflammation in blood vessels throughout the body. The signs and symptoms of Behçet's disease — which may seem unrelated at first — can include mouth sores, eye inflammation, skin rashes and lesions, and genital sores.

Common Symptoms

• Recurrent, painful mouth sores (aphthous ulcers)
• Genital sores
• Eye inflammation (uveitis) that causes pain, blurred vision, and redness
• Acne-like skin lesions
• Joint pain and swelling

Common Causes

• The exact cause is unknown, but it's thought to be an autoinflammatory or autoimmune disorder, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues. Genetic and environmental factors may play a role.

Treatment Information