THE ROLE OF ORAL LESIONS IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF BEHÇET'S SYNDROME

Behçet's syndrome is an inflammatory disorder known as a singular model of vasculitis. A 47-year-old male patient was referred to the stomatologist by a rheumatologist after hospitalization for thrombosis of the iliac vein and inferior vena cava and high C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate values. The patient reported recurrent folliculitis and oral and scrotum ulcerations. Intraoral examination revealed ulcerations dispersed through the mucosa. An excisional biopsy was performed in a right buccal mucosa lesion. Histopathologic analysis demonstrated nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium with areas of exocytosis and ulceration. Connective tissue presented an intense mixed inflammatory infiltrate, congested vessels, hemorrhage, and vasculitis. HLA-B genotyping identified the presence of HLA-B15. The histopathologic report associated with the other findings enabled the rheumatologist to diagnose the condition. The patient is on daily continuous oral use of colchicine 0.5 mg and prednisolone 20 mg, in addition to weekly subcutaneous administration of 0.1 mL of methotrexate 25 mg/mL and has been without recurrence for 8 months. Behçet's syndrome is an inflammatory disorder known as a singular model of vasculitis. A 47-year-old male patient was referred to the stomatologist by a rheumatologist after hospitalization for thrombosis of the iliac vein and inferior vena cava and high C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate values. The patient reported recurrent folliculitis and oral and scrotum ulcerations. Intraoral examination revealed ulcerations dispersed through the mucosa. An excisional biopsy was performed in a right buccal mucosa lesion. Histopathologic analysis demonstrated nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium with areas of exocytosis and ulceration. Connective tissue presented an intense mixed inflammatory infiltrate, congested vessels, hemorrhage, and vasculitis. HLA-B genotyping identified the presence of HLA-B15. The histopathologic report associated with the other findings enabled the rheumatologist to diagnose the condition. The patient is on daily continuous oral use of colchicine 0.5 mg and prednisolone 20 mg, in addition to weekly subcutaneous administration of 0.1 mL of methotrexate 25 mg/mL and has been without recurrence for 8 months.