Serological and molecular HLA typing in Italian Behcet's patients: significant association to B51-DR5-DQw3 haplotype

Behecet's disease (BD) is a multifaceted syndrome characterized by aphtous of the mouth, recurrent ulceration of the genitals, cutaneous vasculitis and ocular involvement (uveitis with or without hypopion, retinal vasculitis) as major symptoms and by arthritis, meningoencephalitis, vascular and visceral involvement as minor symptoms. According to Shimizu's classification the complete form of the disease is diagnosed when all the major symptoms are present, the incomplete form when at least three major criteria are fulfilled.