Ocular manifestations of Behçet's disease in Jordanian patients.

PURPOSE

To study the prevalence, manifestations and severity of ocular involvement of Behçet's disease in Jordanian patients.

METHODS

The study population consisted of 43 patients diagnosed to have Behçet's disease through Rheumatologist's examinations conducted at Jordan University Hospital between January 2002 and July 2009. The sample involved patients who displayed ocular manifestations. This included 18 patients; 12 males and 6 females with a mean age of 35 years (SD = 17.26). Ophthalmological examinations and retrospective analysis of medical files were carried on.

RESULTS

Ocular manifestations were seen in 41.9% of patients. The most common manifestation for Behçet's disease was vitritis with a prevalence of 55.6%, followed by anterior uveitis and retinal vasculitis (50% for each). On the other hand, the most frequent complications involved were cataract, cystoid macular edema (CMO), posterior synechiae and glaucoma with a prevalence of (44.4%), (33.3%), (11.1%) and (5.6%), respectively.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence and severity of ocular lesions in Behçet's disease is relatively low in Jordanian patients. This result indicates that early diagnoses and intervention might delay or even prevent vision loss for those patients.