Behcet’s Disease Following Bariatric Surgery: A Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: Behcet's disease (BD) is a systemic vasculitis that can affect the gastrointestinal system. Case Presentation: This report discusses a 41-year-old woman with a history of bariatric surgery who later developed gastrointestinal symptoms and arthralgia consistent with BD. Diagnosing BD is challenging because there are no specific diagnostic tests; instead, diagnosis is based on the constellation of clinical signs and symptoms such as recurrent oral and genital ulcers, uveitis, and multisystem involvement, which can overlap with other diseases. It remains unclear whether surgical procedures influence the onset or progression of the disease. Conclusions: The relationship between surgical interventions and the onset of BD requires further investigation. This case underscores the importance of considering BD in the differential diagnosis of post-surgical GI symptoms and highlights the role of tailored immunosuppressive therapy in achieving resolution of GI ulceration or arthralgia. Future studies must clarify the interplay between surgical procedures and immune-mediated diseases like BD.