A 30-year old female was admitted to our hospital because of a refractory oropharyngeal ulcer from Behcet’s disease. She had been suffering from Behcet’s disease since she was 16 years old. Salazosulfapyridine, azelastine hydrochloride, colchicine, azathioprine, predonisolone and methotorexate, were not effective. She was hard to eat and drink about six months.
Furthermore, she developed pneumocystis pneumonia, drug eruption due to methotorexate and trimethoprim sulfa, weight loss (7 kg), and steroid psychosis. Leukocytapheresis was effective for treating the oropharyngeal ulcer. Inflammatory markers normalized and prednisolone was reduced in a stepwise fashion.
The cause of Behcet’s disease is unknown but it is assumed that hyperactivation of leucocytes and platelets is deeply related to the condition. We report a case of Behcet’s disease complicated with refractory oropharyngeal ulcer successfully treated by leukocytapheresis.
