THU0555 The reliability of two vasculitis activity scores (birmingham vasculitis activity score and behcet's disease current activity FORM2006) in anticipating damage in a group of patients diagnosed with behcet's disease
Authors: CG Buzatu, SE Daia-Iliescu, I Saulescu, A Borangiu, T Gudu, V Bojinca, D Predeteanu, A Balanescu, R Ionescu, D Opris-Belinski
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2017)

<h3>Background</h3> Validated disease activity scores and damage measurements were developed over time in order to allow a better way to evaluate patients and decide treatment plans.There are scores designed for a great variety of vasculitis like Birmingham Activity Score and others that are more specific like Behcet9s Disease Current Activity Form2006. <h3>Objectives</h3> To evaluate the ability of the activity scores (BVASv3and BDCAF)to predict damage,and the influence of immunosuppressive therapy on damage progression,as measured byVDI, in a group of patients with Behcet9s Disease. <h3>Methods</h3> A study was performed on a cohort of patients diagnosed with Behcet9s Disease under surveillance in one tertiary Rheumatology Centre, from a non-endemic area.All documented cases of Behcet9s Disease have been diagnosed according to The International Criteria for Behçet9s Disease.The Birmingham Activity Score (BVAS)v3, Behcet9s Disease Current Activity Form2006 (BDCAF)and Vasculitis Damage index (VDI) were calculated for all patients. Spearman9s correlation coefficients were calculated between BVASv3 Score, BDCAF, VDI and immunosuppressive treatment.WindowsExcel/SPSS20.0 has been used to analyse the data. <h3>Results</h3> 20 patients were included in the study, with ages at the time of the diagnosis between 13and 60years, 14 (70%) under the age of 40,with a male predominance 60% (12 patients). All patients presented active disease at the time of the diagnosis. In the clinical case series, Spearman9s rank correlation coefficient between BVASv3 and BDCAFwas strong r=0,862with p&lt;0,001.The outcome analysis after remission was calculated and rank correlation coefficient betweenVDI, and both BVASv3 and BDCAF was moderate (VDI-BVASv3 r=0,747, p&lt;0,001, VDI- BDCAF r=0,795, p&lt;0,001).As for immunosuppression induction decision and activity scores,the correlation coefficient was moderate (r=0,734 for BVASv3,r=0,647 for BDCAF)with p&lt;0,001. There was a moderate correlation between immunosuppressive treatment and VDI (r=0,700, p&lt;0,001). Since the cause of damage (vasculitis vs. treatment)is not taken into consideration when we calculate VDI, we tried to observe if there are any connections between this and immunosuppression duration. There was a mild correlation and no statistical impact between cyclophosphamide treatment duration and damage calculated as VDI (r=0,474, p=0,36).In contrast, when rank correlation coefficient between cortisone therapy and VDI was calculated, a moderate statistical impact was observed (r=0,609, p&lt;0,001). <h3>Conclusions</h3> Birmingham Vasculitis Activity score (BVAS) v3 and Behcet9s Disease Current Activity Form2006 (BDCAF) are reliable tools for evaluating disease activity in patients with Behcet9s Disease. They are able to anticipate the need for immunosuppressive therapy and the damage progression, as calculated with Vasculitis Damage Index (VDI). <h3>References</h3> Mukhtyar C, Lee R, et al. Modification and validation of the Birmingham vasculitis activity score, Ann Rheum Dis, 2009. Flossmann O, et al. Development of comprehensive disease assessment in systemic vasculitis. Ann Rheum Dis, 2007. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared