The classic features of BehGet's disease are recurrent oral and genital aphthous ulcers with uveitis ( 1). Additional features include cutaneous vasculitis, synovitis, meningoencephalitis, and gastrointestinal ulcers (1). Major vessel lesions with phlebitis, arteritis, and aneurysm formation also have been reported (2-6) and can present as ischemic extremities (2), massive hemoptysis (3), caval occlusions ( 4 3 , or aortic aneurysms (6). Various cardiac abnormalities also have been described (7) but are rare and seldom recognized antemortem. We describe a young woman with Beh-Get's disease who suffered a myocardial infarction and left ventricular dysfunction that were believed to be due to coronary arteritis and myocarditis.
Case report. In July 1981, a 22-year-old woman was hospitalized after a 6-week history of fever, recurrent oral and genital ulcers, and buttock papules. Two weeks before admission, while febrile, she experienced episodes of anterior chest pain and numbness of the left arm. Her local physician noted aphthous oral and genital ulcers. The leukocyte count was 12,400/ mm3, hemoglobin 12.5 gm/dl, and Westergren erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) 100 mmlhour. Results of microbiologic and radiologic studies for fever of unknown origin were negative, and treatment with antibiotics and salicylates was ineffective.
On examination, the blood pressure was 100/70