[Osteonecrosis of Behçet's disease: diagnosis, therapy, and course].

AIM

The aim of this study is to review the data of skeletal manifestations of Behçet's disease (BD, Morbus Adamantiades- Behçet, silk road disease), which is clinically diagnosed by dermatological, neurological and ophthalmological symptoms. This paper demonstrates the diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties in the management of osteonecrosis and recurrent arthritis associated with BD. Arthrogenic symptoms are a well-recognized feature of the syndrome but low in incidence.

METHOD

A literature review served as the database to show the characteristics of osseous and articular manifestations in Behçet's disease. Furthermore, we present a 25-year clinical follow up of a patient with BD and multiple osteonecrosis.

RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Chronic or intermittent joint pain should lead the physician to include BD into the differential diagnosis especially if there are findings of cutaneous ulcerations, ophthalmological inflammations or neurological symptoms. For detection of osteonecrosis at an early stage, which would allow for successful treatment, MRI scans of at least the symptomatic joints are recommended.