Behcet's Disease Is Associated with Multiple Sclerosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Korean Population-Based Study

Abstract

Background: No epidemiologic study has previously reported on the associations among Behcet's disease (BD) and autoimmune disorders. Objectives: To investigate the association between BD and the autoimmune disorders multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: Medical records of patients newly diagnosed with BD (n = 6,214) in 2012-2017 were analyzed using data entered into a large, nationwide database from 2007 to 2017. An age- and sex-matched control population of individuals without BD was sampled at a ratio of controls:BD cases of 3:1 (n = 18,642). Both cohorts were analyzed for the presence of multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis within a minimum of 5 years prior to their BD diagnosis. Results: Patients with BD had significantly higher odds ratios (ORs) for multiple sclerosis (8.85 [95% CI 2.36-33.17]) and rheumatoid arthritis (4.62 [95% CI 3.35-6.35]) than the control group after adjustment for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. BD patients aged <40 years had a higher proportion of rheumatoid arthritis (OR 23.91, 95% CI 5.50-103.9) than older patients (OR 3.96, 95% CI 2.83-5.54). Conclusion: Our results suggest that BD is associated with multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.