Neurological complications associated with chronic Behçet’s disease: Case report and review

Abstract

Behçet’s disease is a multi-systemic vasculitis causing inflammation to blood vessels throughout the body. It is characterized most commonly by recurrent oral and genital ulcers but also susceptible to ocular, neurologic, vascular, articular, and gastrointestinal symptoms as well. Although etiology of this disease is still unclear and diagnosis is clinically based, there is a consistent association with the human leukocyte antigen complex, particularly HLA-B51.

This case report used the patient’s chronic disease course along with various imaging studies to conclude the correlation of severe complications that may present later in life of these types of patients.

There was positive neurological involvement indicated with an acute infarct in parts of the brain hemispheres exclusively to the temporal and parietal lobes. Central nervous system involvement was more common in this patient, which manifested with noticeable unilateral weakness along with slurred speech.

Although neurologic complications within Behçet’s disease are indeed rare, it is one of the most dangerous manifestations to present in regard of an acute cerebrovascular accident (CVA). This review focused on the neurocognitive complications of chronic Behçet’s disease and how these patients should be closely monitored to help prevent the neurological complications that may present.