Background:Early diagnosis and identification of predominant organ system involvement in Behcet’s disease (BD) is crucial for identifying most optimal treatment. The study evaluates 6 described phenotypes of BD - cutaneous-mucous, articular, ophthalmic, vascular, neurological and intestinal in different ethnic groups.Objectives:To assess the occurrence of Behcet’s disease (BD) phenotypes in different ethnic groups.Methods: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.Results: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.Conclusion: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.Disclosure of Interests:None declared
61 Differences in organ system involvement across racial/ethnic groups: results from the california lupus epidemiology study
