Adamantiades-Behcet's disease

Adamantiades-Behcet's disease (ABD) is a chronic recurrent vasculitis whose aetiology is still unclear. The first description goes back to B. Adamantiades und H. Behcet. The disease mainly occurs in Mediterranean, Middle and Far Eastern countries. However, it is not limited to these regions and can be found worldwide, and, as a result of increasing human mobility, is steadily becoming more significant. Clinical findings reveal recurrent oral and/or genital ulcers, arthritis and skin involvement in the form of erythema nodosum and superficial thrombophlebitis. Relapsing ocular involvement is one of the major manifestations in ABD and can be found in 60-80% of patients, resulting in retinal vasculitis, neuropathy or panuveitis. Eye involvement can lead to blindness in the affected eye in 20-50% of cases. Steroids, cyclosporin A und azathioprin are available to treat affected eyes. Studies of new treatment modalities including interferon-alpha or TNF antibodies are under way.