The study evaluates 6 described phenotypes of Behcet's disease (BD) - cutaneous-mucous, articular, ophthalmic, vascular, neurological and intestinal in different ethnic groups.
To assess the occurrence of BD phenotypes in different ethnic groups.
The study included 202 patients with BD from the 5 most common ethnic groups. The male-female ratio was 2.4:1. Patients’ mean age was 31 years [24;37], mean age at the disease onset was 21 years [15;28]; and mean disease duration was 7 years [3;14]. The severity of BD (mild, moderate and severe) was assessed based on the I. Krause’s Clinical Severity Scoring for BD.
Severe BD was more often diagnosed in Azerbaijanis and indigenous residents of Dagestan compared to Russians (75 and 70.4% vs. 36.2%), in Armenians - 50% and Chechens - 54.5% out of all BD cases. Russians were significantly more likely to have a neurological phenotype (15.5% vs. 0-9.4% in all other ethnic groups) and intestinal phenotype (36.2% vs. 13.8-22.7 in all other ethnic groups). Azerbaijanis demonstrated higher prevalence of ocular involvement (68.7% versus 36.2% in Russians, 50% - in Chechens and Armenians, and 57% - in Dagestanis). Dagestanis were more likely to have a vascular phenotype (40.7% versus 15.6% in Azerbaijanis and 18.9% in Russians). The male/female ratio among Russian patients was 1:1, among Dagestanis 4.4:1, Azerbaijanis 3.5:1, Chechens and Armenians 2.6: 1.
BD phenotypes vary and demonstrate significant association with the patient’s ethnic affiliation therefore, ethnicity should be viewed as the prognostic marker of specific organ-system involvement in case of a disease.