STUDIO CLINICO-IMMUNOLOGICO DI SEI CASI DI MORBO DI BEHCET

6 cases of Behcet's disease are reported. Diagnosis was particularly arduous because the typical triad of symptoms (oral aphthae, genital ulcers, uveitis) was masked by secondary disturbances in other organs and systems. Immunology confirmed the presence in these patients of changes in various in vivo and in vitro tests and particularly interesting was the aspecific cutaneous hypersensitivity seen in 5 cases and enhanced lymphocyte blastic transformation. This was seen spontaneously and following PHA. On the basis of the outcome of the studies carried out and the literature data, the possibility that Behcet's disease may contain immunological changes and changes in the mechanisms that regulate quinine, complement and clotting activation is suggested. Therapeutically, confirmation was obtained of effectiveness, at least temporarily, of corticosteroid treatment and antilymphocyte globulin was experimented for the first time in these patients. This might be used to replace the immune depressant antiblastic substances already successfully employed in patients with Behcet's disease.