CASE REPORT Endovascular treatment of aortic aneurysms in patients with Behcet’s disease: report of two cases Tratamento endovascular de aneurismas da aorta em pacientes com doença de Behçet: relato de dois casos

Behcet’s disease, a systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology, is characterized by recurrent oral and genital ulcers, ocular manifestations and skin lesions.1 Cardiovascular manifestations may occur in around 7-38% of patients;1 it is, thus, the most common cause of death among these patients.2 Peripheral vascular lesion is rare, and arterial lesions are less common than venous disease; its prevalence is around 1.5-3% in the whole world.2 In venous involvement, thrombosis is the most frequent event, occurring even in adequate anticoagulation.3 Aneurysm is more common than occlusion in Behcet’s disease arterial involvement, and the most common site for aneurysm formation is the abdominal aorta, followed by the femoral artery and the pulmonary arteries.4 Among all the vascular lesions that may occur in these patients, arterial aneurysms represent the most difficult and challenging pathology for the vascular surgeon due to its technical difficulties and high recurrence.5 Due to its rapid expansion, with a high rate of rupture, Behcet’s disease aneurysm should be readily treated. The most suitable treatment for aortic aneurysms in Behcet’s disease patients is still a controversial issue. Endovascular treatment is an important alternative for high-risk patients, once morbidity and mortality rates after conventional surgery remain high.6 Abstract