Cardiovascular Issues: Aneurysms and Pseudoaneurysms, Thrombosis, Atherosclerosis, and Cardiac Involvement

Behçet syndrome (BS) is a multisystemic vasculitis characterized by oral and genital ulcerations, skin lesions, uveitis, and vascular, neurological, and gastrointestinal involvement. Cardiovascular manifestations affect 7–46 % of BS patients involving vessels of all sizes. Deep vein thrombosis and superficial vein thrombophlebitis of lower extremities are the most common vascular manifestations of BS whereas aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms are the main arterial complications. Less frequently, cardiac complications occur. Vascular involvement occurs more frequently in male patients with active disease, tends to recur and it is an important cause of mortality and morbidity. Systemic inflammation and not thrombophilic abnormalities are the main trigger of cardiovascular diseases in BS and immunosuppressive treatment is the first line therapy.