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Prevalence and clinical aspects of Behcet’s disease in the north of Israel

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Abstract

Behcet’s disease (BD) has a higher prevalence in countries along the ancient silk route, but the actual prevalence in Israel is unknown. We evaluated the occurrence and clinical expression of BD in the northern region of Israel: in the whole population and by ethnic groups. The sample included all adult patients with BD (International Study Group criteria) treated at three medical centers in northern Israel. Patient data were collected by file review and physician survey. Relevant demographic data for the population served by the medical centers were obtained from the official Israeli authorities. A total of 112 patients were identified. The overall prevalence of BD was 15.2/100,000 and was similar in men and women. The prevalence rates among the Jewish, Arab, and Druze populations were 8.6, 26.2, and 146.4 per 100,000, respectively. Age at disease onset was similar in all ethnic groups and significantly lower in males (28.6±9.7 vs 32.9±11.3, p=0.03). There were no differences in disease manifestations by sex or ethnicity. All Druze patients were HLA-B5 positive, compared to 80.8% of the Arab patients and 72.0% of the Jewish patients. Recurrent oral ulcers in family members were more common in Arab patients (p=0.004). The BD severity index was significantly lower in Druze patients (p=0.05), mainly in males (p=0.03). This study confirms the high prevalence of BD in Israel and the variability in disease rates and expression by ethnic origin. Our findings, particularly regarding the Druze population, call for further field surveys and genetic studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine E, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petach Tiqva, 49100, Israel

    Ilan Krause & Abigail Fraser

  2. Department of Medicine B, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petach Tiqva, 49100, Israel

    Anna Yankevich & Abraham Weinberger

  3. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Ilan Krause, Anna Yankevich & Abraham Weinberger

  4. Department of Rheumatology, Bnei-Zion Medical Center, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel

    Itzhak Rosner, Nina Boulman & Michael Rozenbaum

  5. Rheumatology Unit, Ha’Emek Medical Center, Afula and Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel

    Reuven Mader

  6. Rheumatology Service, Department of Internal Medicine, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel

    Devy Zisman

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  1. Ilan Krause
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  2. Anna Yankevich
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  3. Abigail Fraser
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  4. Itzhak Rosner
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  5. Reuven Mader
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  6. Devy Zisman
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  7. Nina Boulman
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  8. Michael Rozenbaum
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  9. Abraham Weinberger
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Correspondence to Ilan Krause.

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Krause, I., Yankevich, A., Fraser, A. et al. Prevalence and clinical aspects of Behcet’s disease in the north of Israel. Clin Rheumatol 26, 555–560 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-006-0349-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-006-0349-4

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