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CLINICAL COURSE and RELAPSE RATE IN INTESTINAL BEHCET'S DISEASE
Author(s) -
Kim TI,
Kim WH,
Lee JH,
Lee CR,
Kang JK,
Kim NK,
Bang D
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2001.ca01-19.x
Subject(s) - medicine , behcet's disease , gastroenterology , disease , behcet disease , log rank test , gastrointestinal tract , surgery , survival analysis
Behçet's disease is a multisystemic recurrent inflammatory disease. Gastrointestinal tract involvement in Behçet's disease has been identified throughout the alimentary tract and causes diverse symptoms. Various treatment have been utilized to induce or maintain remission. However, little is known about clinical course and prognosis in Behçet's disease with intestinal involvement. The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical course and relapse rate in intestinal Behçet's disease and to investigate factors that may affect relapse. Methods Clinical course and characteristics, including demographic parameters, gastrointestinal symptoms as well as systemic manifestations, laboratory data, endoscopic findings, and treatment strategies for the induction of remission, of 97 patients (49 male, 48 female) with intestinal Behçet's disease were retrospectively reviewed. Cumulative relapse free rate and factors related with relapse were analysed by Kaplan–Meier method and log–rank test, respectively. Results The median duration of the relapse free period was 7 months (ranges from 1 to 171 months). One, two, and five year relapse free rates were 41.2, 29.7 and 10.2%, respectively. Sex, clinical subtype of Behçet's disease, symptom and laboratory data at onset, colonoscopic findings, such as distribution of lesions as well as number, size, depth, and shape of ulcer, and initial treatment (medical vs. surgical) did not affect relapse rate. However, large ulcers (> 20 mm) and young age at onset (< 37 years old) were factors significantly related with higher relapse rate ( P < 0.05, log–rank test). Conclusion High relapse rate in intestinal Behçet's disease was identified. Age at onset and size of the ulcer are factors related with long‐term prognosis of intestinal Behçet's disease.