Objective To investigate the clinical features

diagnosis methods

therapeutic principles of intestinal Behcet’s disease.  Methods The clinical data of 45 patients with confirmed intestinal Behcet’s disease admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from August 1998 to April 2010 were retrospectively analyzed.  Results The clinical courses of patients with intestinal Behcet’s disease were from 26 days to 33 years

and the average duration was 6.32±1.01 years. The appearance of extra-gastrointestinal symptoms was significantly earlier than that of gastrointestinal symptoms (7.35±1.39 years vs. 3.24±0.82 years

P<0.05). The predominant gastrointestinal manifestations were right lower quadrant pain (95.56%) and hematochezia or melena (40.00%). Misdiagnosis occurred in 17 cases. In patients without systemic medicine therapy before surgery

the incidence of postoperative infection of incision site and abdominal cavity was significantly higher than that in those undergoing systemic medicine therapy (80.00% vs. 0%

P<0.05).  Conclusions Because of the diversity of gastrointestinal manifestations

intestinal Behcet’s disease is easily misdiagnosed. The systemic medical therapy before surgery could decrease the incidence of infection of incision and abdominal cavity.