The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of immunosuppressive therapy alone with that of combination therapy involving
immunosuppressants and anticoagulation for the treatment of venous thrombosis in Behcet’s disease (BD). A retrospective analysis
was made of 37 patients with venous thrombosis in BD. BD patients with venous thrombosis were divided into three groups: one
group (
N = 16) received immunosuppressive therapy alone, another group (
N = 17) received immunosuppressant and anticoagulation combination therapy, and the third group (
N = 4) received anticoagulation therapy only. Clinical and laboratory parameters and the recurrence of venous thrombosis were
assessed. Venous thrombosis in BD appeared to have a more diffuse pattern than idiopathic type and a predilection for lower
limbs. The most commonly involved sites were the superficial and common femoral veins. Recurrence of venous thrombosis occurred
in two cases in the immunosuppressant group (12.5%), one case in the combination therapy group (5.9%), and three cases in
the anticoagulant group (75%). No significant difference was found between recurrence in the immunosuppressant and combination
therapy groups. Acute phase reactants were elevated in all six patients at the time of venous thrombosis recurrence. Our study
suggests that immunosuppressive therapy is essential and that anticoagulation therapy might not be required for the treatment
of deep venous thrombosis associated with BD.
Keywords Anticoagulation - Behcet’s disease - Deep venous thrombosis - Immunosuppression