This commentary provides an overview of recent advances concerning Behçet's disease based on proceedings of the international conference on Behçet's disease sponsored by the Royal Society of Medicine and held at the Royal College of Physicians in London on Sept 5 and 6,1985.1I have been liberal in giving my opinions, but I also identify the presenters.
This unique conference is held at four-year intervals and brings together physicians from many disciplines to discuss new advances in treating Behçet's disease. Authors from 20 countries presented 100 abstracts during this meticulously orchestrated event. Professors Hoffenberg, president of the Royal College of Physicians, and Lehner, chairman of the Scientific Committee, made introductory remarks. I have followed the conference's grouping in presenting highlights and my opinions.
IMMUNOLOGY, GENETICS, AND ETIOLOGIC AGENTS
Disease susceptibility genes studied in large independent Japanese and British surveys appear to be HLA-B51 and HLA-DRw52. In addition, there is