Behcet's Disease in a Polish Patient: A Case Report

Behcet's disease (BD) is a systemic autoinflammatory vasculitis. It occurs predominantly in Turkey but very rarely in Europe. The clinical manifestations of BD involve the skin and mucosal membranes; cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and nervous systems; and the eyes and joints. A 26-year-old man was repeatedly hospitalized at the Department of Dermatology of the Medical University of Bialystok. He had a family history of family members' deaths from unknown cause and a long personal history of recurring headaches and nonspecific pain in the chest as well as a 2-year history of recurring painful erosions on the oral mucosa. Recently, before admission to hospital, another erosion had appeared on the scrotum, which rapidly evolved into a painful ulceration. The patient also presented a large erosion in the area of the right hip and acne lesions. He consulted doctors of different specialties and underwent laboratory and imaging tests. Considering the symptoms, BD was diagnosed. Azathioprine was introduced, along with topical treatment. Great improvement of the skin lesions was achieved. He was later admitted to the department a few times for follow-up visits and remains in good general condition. BD is an extremely rare disease in Europe, especially in Poland. The fact that BD is a rare disease outside Asia leads to lower awareness and the possibility of not considering it in the differential diagnosis. The great diversity of symptoms also causes difficulties in tracking this disease. The various manifestations of BD require a broad spectrum of additional tests and an interdisciplinary approach to the patient.