[Ophthalmological involvement in Behçet disease. Apropos of 520 cases].

PURPOSE: The aim of this paper is to compare our results with the literature and to discuss some therapeutical aspects of the disease.

METHODS

This retrospective study concerned 520 cases of Behçet's disease followed by internal diseases department and ophthalmology service of U.H.C. Averroes (Casablanca, Morocco) during 10 years.

RESULTS

There were 432 men (83%) and 88 women (17%). The mean age of the patients was 20 years. Ophthalmological involvements are found in 80%, bilateral in 60%. The disease occurred at the rate of 2 or 3 episodes a year in 5% of cases. Irreversible blindness was noted in 24.4% of cases, predominately panuveitis in 37% of cases, followed by anterior uveitis in 36.3% and retinal vasculitis in 37% of cases. Good results were obtained by a medical care with corticoids and chloraminophen in case of threatening blindness.

CONCLUSION

Behçet's disease remains frequent in our country. It requires early diagnosis and steady ophthalmological surveillance in order to delay onset of blindness.