[Pathophysiology of Behcet's disease].

SUBJECT Pathophysiology of Behçet's disease (BD) is complex. Recent experimental data shed new light on the mechanisms leading to organ lesions. MAIN ISSUES Neutrophils and cytotoxic lymphocytes are now recognized as key effector cells in BD. Genetic susceptibility, environmental factors (virus and/or bacterial infections), inflammatory response abnormalities (heat shock proteins, dysregulated NO production) and abnormal immune response play also a major role in BD pathogeny. PERSPECTIVES Better understanding of the BD pathophysiology will allow the development of new therapies more specific of BD.