Behcet's Syndrome

Introduction THE COMPLEX of recurrent oral and genital ulcerations and hypopyon iritis was first proposed as a clinical entity by Halusi Behcet in 1937, 1 although it is thought by some that this disease was described as early as Hippocrates' Third Book of Endemic Diseases. 2 Like most syndromes, with time the clinical concept has extended far beyond the original description. More recently the frequency and severity of involvement of the central nervous system in this syndrome has been emphasized. 3 The poor prognosis when this occurs and lack of a specific etiology have led to the empiric trial of adrenal steroids in treatment. In view of the rarity of Behcet's syndrome and the uncertainty as to the effectiveness of adrenal steroids in treating the neurologic complications, it would appear profitable to report all cases so treated. The following case illustrates the diagnostic difficulties encountered when neurologic disease is the