Decreasing incidence and severity of Behçet's disease: a changing trend inepidemiological spectrum possibly associated with oral health

Authors

GONCA MUMCU
FATMA ALİBAZ ÖNER
SAFİYE ATLAS TÜLİN ERGUN
RAFİ HANER DİRESKENELİ

DOI

10.3906/sag-2003-147

Abstract

Behçet's disease (BD) is a systemic and inflammatory disorder that is mainly present along the ancient Silk Road, from the Mediterranean Sea to East Asia. A wide range of prevalence figures (0.1-420/100,000) have been reported for BD, also among Turkish populations of similar genetic background living in different countries. Recently, a decline in the incidence of BD and a change of the disease spectrum to less-severe manifestations have been reported from Japan and Korea, two genetically homogenous, affluent populations with limited immigration. It was hypothesized that a decline in infectious diseases, especially dental/periodontal infections, associated with the improvement in oral health, could be a part of these changes in the disease expression. Further epidemiological studies in other populations might demonstrate whether there is a worldwide similar trend and may provide a better understanding of the triggering factors for the onset and course of BD.

Keywords

Behçet's disease, epidemiology, oral health

First Page

1587

Last Page

1590

Recommended Citation

MUMCU, GONCA; ÖNER, FATMA ALİBAZ; ERGUN, SAFİYE ATLAS TÜLİN; and DİRESKENELİ, RAFİ HANER (2020) "Decreasing incidence and severity of Behçet's disease: a changing trend inepidemiological spectrum possibly associated with oral health," Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences: Vol. 50: No. 10, Article 2. https://doi.org/10.3906/sag-2003-147
Available at: https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/medical/vol50/iss10/2