Pathophysiology of Behcet's disease

SUBJECT: Pathophysiology of Beh?et's disease (BD) is complex. Recent experimental data shed new light on the mechanisms leading to organ lesions. MAIN ISSUES: Neutrophils and cytotoxic lymphocytes are now recognized as key effector cells in BD. Genetic susceptibility, environmental factors (virus and/or bacterial infections), inflammatory response abnormalities (heat shock proteins, dysregulated NO production) and abnormal immune response play also a major role in BD pathogeny. PERSPECTIVES: Better understanding of the BD pathophysiology will allow the development of new therapies more specific of BD.