LETTERS
IMAJ | volume 26
Journal 5, May 2024
pages: 333
Can We Facilitate Early Diagnosis of Behçet's Disease among Arab Israeli Patients Who Do Not Fulfill Diagnostic or Classification Criteria?
1 Rheumatology Unit, Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya, Israel
2 Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
Summary
Since the introduction of the international study group (ISG) criteria for the diagnosis of Behçet's disease (BD) in the early 1990s by Yazici and colleagues [1] and the international criteria for BD (ICBD) by Davatchi and colleagues in 2014 [2], great progress has been achieved in the diagnosis of BD with fairly high sensitivity and specificity rates. However, a small, but very challenging and unique minority might not fulfill these criteria, at least at presentation. These patients are most challenging as they may present with life-threatening vascular or neurological manifestations. If the diagnosis BD is delayed, the risk for morbidity and even mortality might be increased. Therefore, we should aim for early diagnosis and prompt treatment.