Behcet’s Disease Recovery & Support

There is no cure for Behcet’s disease, but treatments can keep symptoms under control. Therapies are most effective when started early and monitored regularly. NYU Langone rheumatologists at the Behcet’s Disease Center can provide effective, personalized care over the long term for people with this condition.

Behcet’s Disease Center

NYU Langone’s Behcet’s Disease Center is the only one of its kind in North America, focusing on the care of Behcet’s syndrome, vasculitis, and other related conditions. The center conducts clinical and translational research aimed at better understanding Behcet’s syndrome and developing new treatment options.

Because of the rarity of this inflammatory disease, most rheumatologists and primary care physicians are unable to accumulate enough people to conduct effective clinical trials, as is possible at NYU Langone.

Experts at the Behçet’s Disease Center have seen more than 1,000 people with Behçet’s disease from 45 states and 15 countries. If you’re unable to make the trip to New York, the center can work with your doctor to provide expert consultation.

Ongoing Treatment

The goal of treatment with medication is to get you into remission. That can take several months to years. If your symptoms are under control with medication and eventually subside, your doctor may slowly take you off the medication, with the goal of stopping treatment when Behçet’s disease enters a remission phase. During remission, the signs and symptoms disappear but can still flare up, or return, at any time.

Some people, however, need long-term medication to control the symptoms of Behçet’s disease. You can expect to follow up with your rheumatologist on a regular basis to ensure the treatment is working and to manage any side effects of medication, such as fatigue, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of infection.

It’s important for people with severe symptoms to continue seeing a rheumatologist after treatment is completed. Your doctor may want to see you annually for several years to monitor your health and to check for any signs of relapse. If Behçet’s disease does flare up, the experts at NYU Langone can immediately treat you and help alleviate your symptoms.