Early Recognition of Behçet’s Disease Through Multisystem Assessment in Primary Care: A Case Report
Leyla ASLANKAYA, Ozan Emre ELIACIK and Vildan MEVSIM
Behçet’s disease (BD) is a chronic, relapsing multisystem vasculitis often presenting with mild, nonspecific symptoms. Early manifestations may appear across multiple visits, making primary care essential in recognizing multisystem patterns. Early identification and referral can prevent severe complications like ocular, neurologic, gastrointestinal, and vascular involvement.A 31-year-old woman presented with recurrent painful oral aphthous ulcers. Her history included genital ulcers, erythematous leg lesions (suggestive of erythema nodosum), and unintentional weight loss (10 kg in 6 months). Rheumatologic review revealed photosensitivity, episodic pain in joints, and transient MCP arthritis. She also had a single episode of hematochezia two months prior. Denying fever, uveitis, and other specific symptoms, physical examination revealed active oral ulcers and MCP tenderness. Lab tests showed negative ANA, ENA, RF, and anti-CCP, but elevated CRP and ESR. Ophthalmologic evaluation showed no ocular involvement. Gastroenterology scheduled a colonoscopy to assess hematochezia. Based on recurrent mucosal ulcers, vasculitic skin lesions, and episodic arthritis, BD was likely, and the patient was referred for further management.The diagnosis was made not from a single symptom but through the integration of fragmented symptoms across multiple systems. This case illustrates how routine complaints like oral ulcers can reveal underlying multisystem vasculitis when assessed comprehensively.BD often presents in a fragmented manner, making early symptoms easily overlooked. Primary care clinicians should maintain suspicion when oral ulcers coexist with genital ulcers, erythema nodosum, peripheral arthritis, or gastrointestinal symptoms. Comprehensive history-taking and careful examination can reduce delays in diagnosis and long-term morbidity.BD is often underdiagnosed due to its variable presentation. Early recognition through primary care continuity and broad differential thinking allows for timely referral and treatment, minimizing the risk of complications such as vision loss, vascular issues, and chronic gastrointestinal disease.This case emphasizes the crucial role of family physicians in recognizing early multisystem involvement and facilitating timely referral and multidisciplinary management, preventing diagnostic delay.
