Systemic amyloidosis in Behçet's disease

Ann Intern Med. 1975 Aug;83(2):220-3. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-83-2-220.

Abstract

Clinical features in two patients with Behcet's disease were dominated by "minor" manifestations of the disease--arthritis and central nervous system involvement in one, chronic stasis ulcers complicating thrombosis of the inferior vena cava in the other. In a third patient, the dominant clinical features were coincidental obstructive airway disease and cor pulmonale. Two patients developed a nephrotic syndrome; the third had intermittent trace proteinuria. Amyloidosis was proved by histologic examination in all three. The two patients examined post-mortem had no focus of chronic suppuration. There is a possibility that systemic amyloidosis is an intrinsic feature of Behcet's disease.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Amyloidosis / etiology*
  • Amyloidosis / pathology
  • Behcet Syndrome / complications*
  • Behcet Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Behcet Syndrome / pathology
  • Humans
  • Kidney Glomerulus / pathology
  • Male