Advisory Group Issues Consensus Recommendations for Neuro-Behçet's Disease

Though it is a relatively uncommon condition, Neuro-Behçet’s disease (NBD) is a serious manifestation of Behcet’s disease that neurologists must consider in their differential diagnoses of inflammatory, infective, or demyelinating central nervous system disorders. However, evidence-based information on NBD diagnosis and management is scarce, and planning for such studies is challenging.

On behalf of the International Neuro-Behçet’s Advisory Group, Seema Kaira, MD, and colleagues developed expert consensus recommendations using an extensive literature review and wide consultations with an international advisory panel, followed by a Delphi exercise.

The agreed-upon guidelines — which were published online December 24, 2013, in the Journal of Neurology — include NBD diagnostic criteria with 2 levels of certainty and recommendations on when to consider NBD in a neurological patient, as well as on the use of various paraclinical tests. Management recommendations include the treatment of parenchymal NBD and cerebral venous thrombosis, the use of disease-modifying therapies, prognostic factors, and outcome measures.