Abstract

The pathologic and immunopathologic findings of 15 skin biopsies of Behcet's syndrome were studied to investigate the pathogenetic mechanism of this syndrome. The age range was 28 to 50 years; male to female ratio was 1 : 1.2. Ulceration with acute necrotizing and chronic nonspecific inflammation was present in most cases with leukocytoclastic vasculitis and perivascular lymphohistiocytic, plasmocytic infiltrations. Eight of 15 cases showed C3 deposit in the walls of venules and capillaries, one of them was associated with IgM and fibrinogen deposits. With these findings humoral factor seemed to play a main role in the pathogenesis of vasculitis observed in Behcet's syndrome, but the possibility of other mechanisms operative in complex pattern was also considered.