Evaluation of clinical features and treatment responses in cardiac and vascular involvement of Behcet's disease


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Yadigaroglu N. O., SARI R. A., TAŞÇI Ş., Yadigaroglu M.

ANNALS OF CLINICAL AND ANALYTICAL MEDICINE, no.8, pp.575-580, 2024 (ESCI) identifier

Abstract

Aim: Cardiovascular system (CVS) involvement stands as a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality in Beh & ccedil;et's disease. We aimed to evaluate the clinical features and treatment responses in cardiac and vascular involvement of Beh & ccedil;et's disease. Material and Methods: This study was conducted as a single-center, retrospective clinical trial, focused on Beh & ccedil;et's patients with CVS involvement, analyzing patterns of CVS involvement, treatment modalities, and vascular relapse development. Results: Among the 271 Beh & ccedil;et's patients examined, 61 with CVS involvement meeting the study criteria were included. The median age at the first vascular attack was 31 years (range: 20-62), with 83.7% male (p<0.001). Venous involvement was in 49 patients (80.3%). Throughout the follow-up period, vascular relapse was observed in 36.4% (8/22) of patients under immunosuppressive (IS) treatment alone, 90.9% (10/11) under anticoagulant (AC) treatment alone, and 48% (12/25) under combined (IS+AC) treatment (p=0.025). Discussion: Our findings suggest that the addition of anticoagulant therapy to the treatment regimen of Beh & ccedil;et's disease patients with CVS involvement does not mitigate the risk of vascular relapse. However, the need for larger-scale studies on this subject is obvious.