Behçet's disease, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and trisomy 8

Behçet's disease, is an inflammatory disease of unknown etiology with multisystem involvement and chronic course. In addition to the triad (recurrent oral and genital ulcers, and uveitis), it may exhibit involvement of other organs, but it is a rare hematologic commitment. Behçet's disease association with myelodysplastic processes, although uncommon, has been previously described. We report the case of a patient with Behçet's disease who developed thrombocytopenia and monocytosis. Trisomy 8 was found in karyotypic analysis and findings of myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative disease in the bone marrow. We discuss the relationship between trisomy 8, myelodysplastic syndrome and Behçet's disease.