Abstract
Behçet's disease is a refractory systemic inflammatory disorder characterized by the following four cardinal symptoms : recurrent oral aphthous ulcers, cutaneous symptoms, ocular symptoms, and pubic ulceration. The disorder is also associated with the following five accessory symptoms : arthritis, epididymitis, vasculitis, gastrointestinal symptoms, and central nervous system symptoms. Gastrointestinal Behçet's disease is defined as a variant in which the gastrointestinal symptoms appear primarily. Gastrointestinal lesions in this variant can occur in all parts of the gastrointestinal tract. They present as refractory, deep, punched-out ulcers that are often observed in the ileocecal region. For accurate diagnosis, it is important to rule out other disorders that cause similar mucosal lesions. The similarities and differences in clinical course and mucosal findings are taken into account to exclude other causes. Treatment for gastrointestinal Behçet's disease has not been established yet. 5-Aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and parenteral nutrition have been widely used for treatment. Recently, anti-TNF-α antibodies have been proposed as an efficacious therapeutic option.
