Neuro-Behçet is a rare disease but should be considered in all kinds of neurological findings, even in childhood

Abstract

Objective Behçet's disease (BD) is a vasculitis characterised by eye, musculoskeletal, neurological and gastrointestinal involvement, in addition to recurrent oral ulcers. Neuro-Behçet is the term used to define the nervous system involvement in BD and is very rarely seen in childhood. This study aims to show that neuro-Behçet can manifest a clinical course involving all kinds of neurologic findings in the paediatric population. Methods The Clinic of Paediatric Neurology at Uludag University provides tertiary treatment for children up to eighteen years of age in Bursa, Turkey. Five patients who were clinically diagnosed with Neuro-Behçet in the last 5 years were included in the study. Results Seizure, myopathy, transverse myelitis, polyneuropathy, venous thrombosis and facial nerve paralysis were respectively seen in the patients. Conclusion Neuro-Behçet is rare in children, but it is important to know that it can cause various neurological findings, and also systemic findings should be taken into consideration in the diagnosis of neurological diseases. Studies on the neurological involvement of BD in children are inadequate. We believe that paediatric neurologists should be more aware of the neuro-Behçet condition.