Risk factors for cognitive impairment in subjects with Behçet's disease

In the present study we evaluated the prevalence and risk factors for cognitive impairment in subjects with Behçet's Disease (BD). The following risk factors were studied: age, education, disease duration, activity of disease, prednisone dosage, and anxiety and depression levels. Twenty-six BD out-patients without overt neurological involvement and 26 sex-matched controls completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Compared to controls, BD subjects were significantly impaired on tasks evaluating long-term verbal and nonverbal memory, and visuospatial skills. Cognitive impairment was evident in 46.1% of BD patients compared with none of control subjects (p<.0001), with memory representing the cognitive domain most affected. Both high disease activity (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.5, p <.04) and prednisone dosages (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.7, p <.03) were associated with cognitive impairment in BD after adjustment for demographics. Cognitive impairment is frequent in BD subjects without overt neurological involvement, and involves mainly memory functions. It is more common in patients with active disease and in those receiving prednisone.