Patterns of Recurrence and Prognosis in Patients with Intestinal Behcet's Disease Who Underwent a Bowel Resection

Hur, Hyuk; Min, Byung Soh; Kim, Jin Soo; Lee, Kang Young; Park, Yoon Ah; Baik, Seung Hyuk; Sohn, Seung Kook; Cho, Chang Hwan; Kim, Jae Hak; Kim, Won Ho; Kim, Nam Kyu

Abstract

PURPOSE
We aim to analyze the clinical course and the recurrence patterns after surgical treatment in patients with intestinal Behcet's disease and to determine the prognostic factors. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with intestinal Behcet's disease who had undergone operations between 1979 and 2007 were analyzed. Clinical characteristics between the recurrent group (n=24) and the non-recurrent group (n=14) were compared. The cumulative recurrence rates were calculated by using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the results were compared by using the log-rank test. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 120 months. The median age of the 38 patients was 36.5 years, and the patients included 26 males and 12 females. Recurrences after surgical treatment were observed in 24 patients, and reoperations were performed in 21 patients. The mean age at operation was 35.7 years in the recurrent group and was less than 43.4 years in the non-recurrent group (P=0.030). Clinical subtypes of Behcet's disease (complete or incomplete vs. suspicious) and the cause of operation (presence vs. absence of a perforation or fistula) were different between the recurrent and the non-recurrent groups (P=0.048, P=0.014, respectively). The 5-year cumulative recurrence rate and reoperation rate for all patients with intestinal Behcet's disease who underwent operations were 52.7% and 36.0%, respectively the clinical subtypes and the cause of the operation were significant factors affecting the cumulative recurrence and the reoperation rates. CONCLUSIONS: Intestinal Behcet's disease demonstrates high recurrence and reoperation rates after surgical treatment. More careful follow up is needed to these surgical patients with high risk of recurrence and reoperation.