In five males an erythema nodosum-arthropathy complex preceded the classical oro-genito-ocular triad of Behçet's disease by an average of 27 months. This symptom complex involving the legs initially suggested "idiopathic" erythema nodosum syndrome or acute sarcoidosis. As the diagnosis of Behçet's disease is clinical, these protean manifestations shoud be recognized as a possible "forme fruste" of the disease.