Korean J Med.  2011 Jul;81(1):126-129.

A Case of Behcet's Disease with Splenic Infarction

• Jung JH
• Kang MK
• Lee HN
• Kwon MH
• Joung CI

Abstract

Behcet's disease is a multisystem autoimmune disease with vasculitic features, and major vascular involvement occurs in 7.7-60% of patients. Venous lesions are more common than arterial lesions and arterial thrombotic events are relatively rare. We report a patient with Behcet's disease who developed a splenic infarct associated with splenic thrombotic arteritis. A 44-year-old man who had been diagnosed with Behcet's disease 5 years earlier presented with left flank pain lasting for 5 days. Laboratory tests revealed an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Computed tomography (CT) and three-dimensional CT showed a wedge-shaped splenic infarct and thrombus in the splenic artery. We treated him with low-molecular-weight heparin and prednisolone. The symptoms improved within 6 days of hospitalization, after which we stopped the heparin and added methotrexate and azathioprine. Splenic infarct should be ruled out if patients with Behcet's disease complain of new left-sided abdominal pain.

Keyword

Behcet's disease; Splenic infarct; Arteritis

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Adult
Arteritis
Autoimmune Diseases
Azathioprine
Blood Sedimentation
C-Reactive Protein
Flank Pain
Heparin
Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight
Hospitalization
Humans
Methotrexate
Prednisolone
Splenic Artery
Splenic Infarction
Thrombosis
Azathioprine
C-Reactive Protein
Heparin
Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight
Methotrexate
Prednisolone