Dermographism and atopy in patients with Behcet's disease

Dermographism is the appearance of whealing and erythema within minutes in a site where skin has been exposed to pressure or mechanical irritation. In our clinical observations, dermographism seems to be frequent in patients with Behcet's disease. Since the prevalence of allergic responses is reportedly increased in vasculitic syndromes, we aimed to assess dermographism and atopy in a group of Behcet's patients. The study group comprised 30 consecutive patients with Behcet's disease. The study was carried out in two parts: elicited dermographism and atopy tests. In the first part, dermographism was investigated in the study group (Behcet's patients) and 230 healthy controls. In the second part, the study group, 30 healthy controls and 17 patients with allergic bronchial asthma were evaluated for specific and nonspecific atopy. Dermographism was found to be increased in patients with Behcet's disease. Peripheral blood eosinophil count, serum fetal IgE and nasal eosinophil scores were similar in patients with Behcet's disease and healthy controls. Although blood eosinophil count and serum total IgE levels were higher in allergic bronchial asthma patients than in Behcet's patients, the difference was significant only in the former Skin prick test was positive in three of the patients with Behcet's disease and in six healthy controls. The difference was statistically insignificant (p >0.05). None of the Behcet's disease patients had pathergy or a pathergy-like reaction at the site of the skin prick test after 48 h. In conclusion, our results confirm the general impression that dermographism is common in patients suffering from Behcet's disease.