Incidence and severity of Behcet's Disease is decreasing: A changing trend in epidemiological spectrum possibly associated with oral health.

Incidence and severity of Behcet's Disease is decreasing: A changing trend in epidemiological spectrum possibly associated with oral health. Turk J Med Sci. 2020 Mar 28;: Authors: Mumcu G, Alibaz Öner F, Ergun SAT, Direskeneli RH Abstract Behcet's disease (BD) is a systemic and inflammatory disorder mainly present along the ancient Silk Road, from Mediterranean Sea to East Asia. A wide range of prevalence figures (0.1-420/100.000) are reported for BD, also among Turkish populations of similar genetic background living in different countries. Recently, a decline of the incidence of BD and a change of the disease spectrum to less-severe manifestations are reported from Japan and Korea, two genetically homogenous, affluent populations with limited immigration. We hypothesize 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. PMID: 32222130 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences - Category: General Medicine Tags: Turk J Med Sci Source Type: research