PURPOSE: Behcet's disease (BD) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by orogenital ulcers, skin and ocular lesions, in addition to articular, vascular, and neurologic symptoms. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), can also occur in BD patients secondary to inflammation in the connective tissues, vessels, and tendons, as well as nerve involvement in BD itself. However, reports of patients who have CTS in BD are rare. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of CTS in BD patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the medical records of 1750 BD patients, and 14 (0.8%) BD patients who were diagnosed with CTS was performed at the BD Specialty Clinic of Severance Hospital. Patient demographics, disease activity/severity for both diseases, and the clinical characteristics of CTS in BD were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: All 14 BD patients with CTS were women. Twelve patients (85.7%) were diagnosed with active BD. The CTS was mild in 8 patients (57.2%), moderate in 3 patients (21.4%), and severe in 3 patients (21.4%). Ten patients (71.4%) had BD prior to the diagnosis of CTS, and these 10 patients all had active BD. CONCLUSION: CTS can occur as a result of the inflammation associated with BD and can also be the presenting symptom of nerve involvement in BD. CTS can also develop as the initial symptom of BD. Therefore, a higher degree of suspicion should be maintained for CTS in patients with BD and vice versa; however, the exact relationship is uncertain.
Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Behcet Syndrome/complications/diagnosis/*epidemiology ; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/diagnosis/*epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Distribution

INTRODUCTIONCarpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common pregnancy complication. However, it is often overlooked by medical practitioners and patients alike. This study aimed to describe CTS in relation to pregnancy and assess how significant the disease was among pregnant women.

METHODSIn a prospective cross-sectional study, 333 respondents were randomly selected from among pregnant women attending the primary care maternal health clinic in a university hospital. CTS was diagnosed clinically based on patient history and physical examination. The severity of CTS was assessed using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire. Symptomatic respondents were asked whether they had mentioned their problems to doctors and received appropriate treatment.

RESULTS82 (24.6%) pregnant women presented with symptoms of CTS, a majority of whom were ethnic Malays (Malay 87.8%; non-Malay 12.2%). The risk for developing CTS during the third trimester of pregnancy was found to be two-fold among Malay women compared to patients of other ethnicities (odds ratio 2.262; 95% confidence interval 1.10-4.46; p = 0.024). The commonest complaint was daytime numbness (76.8%). The severity of CTS among patients was predominantly mild (80.5%), and the symptoms were severe enough to affect hand function in approximately one-third (34.1%) of the group. However, only 25.6% of symptomatic patients mentioned their problems to their doctors, and of these, 9.5% received treatment.

CONCLUSIONCTS is prevalent in the third trimester of pregnancy, especially among Malay women, in whom the risk of developing the syndrome is two-fold. Yet, this troublesome complication of pregnancy appears to be under-recognised, with most patients not being treated appropriately.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; etiology ; pathology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Pregnancy Trimesters ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; Young Adult