Behcet's Disease as a Multiple Symptom Complex

A voluminous literature has accumulated since Halusi Behcet¹two decades ago in several publications called attention to the morbid entity of recurrent attacks of ulcerative changes in the eyes, mouth, and genitalia. Soon it became certain that besides the three manifestations, which are not always fully evident, other signs may be present in the blood vessels, skin, joints, and viscera, and the disease cannot be regarded anymore as a triple symptom complex but as a complex of diverse symptoms. Many observers maintain that the disease is more prevalent in the Middle East, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean area. Feigenbaum⁶found that the full picture of this new syndrome was described by Hippocrates in his third book of endemic diseases. During the last 20 years I have had the opportunity to observe 10 cases of Bechet's disease. The diagnosis was made when two of the three cardinal symptoms were