Complex aphthosis and Behçet's disease.

Abstract

Complex aphthosis is a disorder in which patients develop recurrent oral and genital aphthous ulcers or almost constant, multiple oral aphthae, without manifestations of systemic disease. Behçet's disease is a multisystem disease characterized clinically by oral and genital aphthae, arthritis, cutaneous lesions, and ocular, gastrointestinal, and neurologic manifestations. This article reviews both disorders, including their clinical and histologic presentations, factors in pathogenesis, and includes an overview of therapeutic modalities.