Aniza Giacaman, Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario Son Espases; Servicio de Dermatología, Clínica Rotger. Mallorca, España
Mª Concepción Mir-Perello, Departamento de Reumatología Pediátrica. Hospital Universitari Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, España
Marta López-García, Departamento de Reumatología Pediátrica. Hospital Universitari Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, España
Lluís Galmes-Rossello, Departamento de Reumatología Pediátrica. Hospital Universitari Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, España
Ana Martín-Santiago, Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario Son Espases; Servicio de Dermatología, Clínica Rotger. Mallorca, España
Introduction: Diagnosis of Behçet’s disease (BD) is clinical, and can be quite a challenge in children, given the low prevalence and insidious appearance of symptoms, leading to a delay in most cases. Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics of patients under 16 years of age with suspected BD on follow-up in a tertiary care hospital. Material and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted that included all patients being followed up in the Children’s Rheumatology Unit of Son Espases University Hospital in Majorca, Spain, for suspected BD. Parents’ consent was obtained, records were reviewed, and a complete physical exam was made in all patients during their visits to the outpatient clinics in dermatology and pediatric rheumatology between June and December 2019, inclusive. Compliance with the current diagnostic criteria of BD was checked. Results: Of the total of 18 pediatric patients with suspected BD, eight met the clinical criteria for BD (5 girls and 3 boys). Median age of presentation of the first symptom was two years, and median age at diagnosis was six years. The most frequent clinical manifestations at the beginning were mucocutaneous symptoms (50%). During the development of the disease, the most frequent manifestations were mucocutaneous (100%), digestive (88%), articular (75%), ocular (75%), and neurological (50%). The HLA-B51 study was positive in 50% of cases. Conclusions: We highlight the importance of a comprehensive approach to these patients and the creation of protocols that will enable early diagnosis and treatment, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality.
Keywords: Behçet’s disease; Diagnosis; Vasculitis; Pediatric.
