| Summary: | The pathergy phenomenon (PP) is one of the hallmarks of Behcet's Disease (BD). It has been reported to be positive from 17.5% to 83% of cases in different studies. PP is used as a diagnosis criterion in the Dilsen criteria, the Japan criteria, the International criteria, and the Iran criteria. It is therefore important to know wether PP is a fix manifestation of the disease or a cyclic manifestation like mucocutaneous disorders. To evaluate the charaterist'tc of P'P over a period of time, 77 patients were selected randomly (rcgaardless of their disease activity or their disease manifestations), to have a second pathergy test, lite pathcrgy test was performed by needle puncture on the skin of the forearm. Three methods were used: 1- needle prick with a 21 - gauge needle. 2- needle prick with a 25  gauge needle. 3- needle prick with a 25-guage needle and the injection of I drop of a sterile normal saline solution. Tlie result was evaluated 24 hours Liter. Tlie shortest interval between two tests-was one month and the longest 13 years. Die mean interval was 35.4 months, the standard deviation was 36.6 Tlurty-nine patients had a negative PI' at their first evaluation. At the second evaluation, 27 remained negative while 12 changed to positive. Thirty-eight patients had a positive PP at their first evaluation. At the second evaluation, 19 remained positive while 19 changed to negative. Although there is a difference between the two groups, it is not statistically significant (x=3.813 , p=0.05). Our data demonstrates that the pathergy phenomenon is waxing and waning, like the majority of other manifestations of Behcet's Disease. TJierefore, it may be repeated for diagnosis purposes.
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