Behcet S Disease

It is with great pleasure that I write this Foreword to the Proceedings of the International Conference on Behçet’s Disease which was held in Berlin in June 2002. This was the first International Conference held under the auspices of the International Society for Behçet’s Disease which was founded in 2000 in Seoul. First, I congratulate our colleagues in Berlin, led by Professor Christos Zouboulis of the Department of Dermatology at the Free University of Berlin, for having organised a most successful conference and for having compiled these proceedings so rapidly. It will be realised immediately on scanning the contents of this book that the conference was truly international with 210 participants from 26 countries, as Professor Zouboulis has noted in his preface. These included basic scientists, epidemiologists, pathologists, clinicians and, importantly, representatives from patient organisations. The latter held their own conference alongside the scientific-medical conference to mutual benefit. The combined session of patients and doctors (abstracts on pp 601 – 626) gave the opportunity for an exchange of information and fruitful discussion. The wide ranging scope of the communications is evident from the index and it was most encouraging to see their origin – from all parts of the world, from senior and junior colleagues and, from many different disciplines. Many communications may be regarded as preliminary reports of research in progress and we look forward to seeing the definitive publications in appropriate journals in due course.

The expanded second edition of this important work provides an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of Behçet syndrome. New and updated chapters focus on recent advances in the areas of pathogenesis, the microbiome, genetics and epigenetics, clustering of symptoms, disease assessment and new treatment options. The book examines how these developments have changed the way physicians approach diagnosis, treatment, and management of Behçet patients. It also analyzes the wide variety of clinical manifestations of the disease including mucocutaneous lesions, intraocular inflammation, central nervous system involvement, deep vein thrombosis and other forms of major vascular disease. Building on the success of its predecessor, the Second Edition of Behçet Syndrome is an invaluable resource for physicians, residents, fellows, and graduate students in rheumatology, dermatology, ophthalmology, neurology, gastroenterology, and internal medicine.

This contributed volume provides a complete overview of Neuro-Behçet’s disease (NBD), one of the most serious manifestations of Behçet’s disease. It serves as a comprehensive and critical review of the current scientific literature regarding NBD, covering the epidemiology, pathology, prognosis, and treatment of the disease. This book is an essential resource for both researchers and physicians working on neurology, rheumatology, and internal medicine fields.

Behçet’s Syndrome has seen great strides over the last two decades in the availability of new treatments and the understanding of underlying pathogenesis. Only 30 years ago the majority of particularly young men with Behçet’s lost total eye sight, now only a minority do. This book covers the most recent developments in the basic and clinical aspects of Behçet’s Syndrome. International authorities have collaborated to offer their diverse expert knowledge on the multiple affected organs and systems, including the skin, the eye, the brain, the lungs and not the least the gastrointestinal and the locomotor systems. A special chapter is devoted to juvenile disease. The definitive resource on Behçet’s Syndrome, this book is well suited for rheumatologists, dermatologists, ophthalmologists, neurologists, and health professionals caring for Behçet’s patients.

Behçet’s disease is a rare, vascular autoinflammatory illness that is little understood. Using a question-and-answer format – along with illustrations and photographs – this book gives easy-to-understand explanations of common patient concerns. Detailed information is provided on causes, symptoms, complications, and treatments for Behçet’s disease. Physicians in training and/or new to the field of Behçet’s will find that included material is referenced and evidence-based, and that the book has been reviewed in advance of publication by clinicians noted in the research and treatment of Behçet’s. This book includes numerous in-text Web links to relevant information at the National Institutes of Health and other online sources. The companion disc includes informational resources and illustrations to help you better understand all of the material from the book; there are also links to international Behçet’s patient organizations and to free public-access medical journal articles about Behçet’s. FEATURES: *Includes information on Behçet’s disease in the United States and Western European countries – areas not often covered in depth in other publications *Provides descriptions of diagnostic features of Behçet’s disease *Provides information on anti-TNF (and other) medications currently in use and some orphan drug treatments under development *Includes a companion disc with figures, photographs, and Web links to references in the text and other sources of information

Inflammatory Diseases of Blood Vessels“/b> Inflammatory Diseases of Blood Vessels Second Edition Inflammatory Diseases of Blood Vessels provides a comprehensive overview of the science and clinical consequences of vascular inflammation in health and disease. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in understanding different forms of vasculitis. Investigation of pathogenesis of vascular inflammation has led to improved treatments and outcomes. Surgical and transplant procedures have improved in parallel with medical therapies. These areas are extensively examined in this new edition. Inflammatory Diseases of Blood Vessels is an excellent resource for a broad readership, including clinicians, investigators and their support teams in numerous specialties e.g. rheumatology, immunology, cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, pulmonary medicine, nephrology, pathology, vascular biology, embryology and imaging.

Can you imagine going to bed every night knowing you might wake up blind, deaf, paralyzed, or worse - not at all? Ellis Michaels doesn't have to imagine it. He's been living it for decades. And so have thousands of others diagnosed with Behcet's disease. Like Crohn's, Lupus, fibromialgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, MS, and dozens of other illnesses, Behcet's is an autoimmune disease. Though each is unique, they all cause the body to attack itself. And Ellis's body has been kicking the crap out of him for decades. Here are just a few of the horrible symptoms he's experienced: Massive blood clots (DVTs) in both legs A clot in his inferior vena cava (vein going to the heart) Deep, open ulcers in his mouth Quarter-sized open sores on his... On the last place a guy would want them Severe eye inflammation leading to blindness that literally happened overnight Golf-ball-sized cysts on his face, neck, and ears And that was all before Ellis had even turned 18. Living with Behcet's disease (sometimes called Behcet's syndrome) can be an everyday struggle filled with pain and suffering. And while Ellis's journey has been a bumpy one to say the least, filled with depression, anxiety, drug addiction, and at times utter despair, he's managed to live an awesome life in spite of his diagnosis. By learning to see the silver linings of his illness, by focusing on the positives instead of the negatives, Ellis transformed his mind, his body, and his entire life. This is the story of how Ellis Michaels managed to find happiness through the pain and embarrassment of living with Behcet's disease. *** Warning! This memoir contains language and subject matter that might not be suitable for sensitive readers. There are discussions about drug use, mental illness, sex, suicide, and certain below-the-belt body parts. If you find these topics or occasional profanity distasteful, this book won't be your cup of tea. But Behcet's is a distasteful disease and can't be discussed in an open and honest manner without including these things. ***