MBBS OSCE · General Medicine
OSCE — Behçet's Syndrome
Eight-minute OSCE station on Behçet's Syndrome: focused history, examination priorities, investigations, emergency and definitive management.
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Brief (to candidate)
You will assess a patient with a presentation consistent with Behçet's Syndrome.
You have 8 minutes to take a focused history, outline examination, investigations, and management including red flags.
Clinical context
Behçet's syndrome is a relapsing-remitting multisystem vasculitis (affects both arteries and veins of all sizes) classically defined by recurrent oral aphthous ulcers plus any two of: genital ulcers, eye lesions (uveitis/retinal vasculitis), skin lesions (erythema nodosum, papulopustular, pathergy), and positive pathergy test. Commonest along the Silk Road (Turkey, Mediterranean, Middle East, East Asia); rare in Northern Europeans. HLA-B51 association. Can involve vessels (venous thrombosis, arterial aneurysm, pulmonary artery aneurysm — major cause of death), eyes (panuveitis, retinal vasculitis — blindness), gastrointestinal (ileocaecal ulcers), joints (arthritis), neurological, and skin.
Candidate tasks
- Clarify onset, severity, associated features, and red-flag symptoms.
- State focused examination priorities.
- List first-line investigations and any named score/criteria.
- Give immediate resuscitation steps.
- Outline definitive management with doses/routes where standard.
- Name complications and disposition (ward / HDU / theatre / discharge safety-net).
- Mention one special-population modifier (pregnancy, child, elderly, CKD).
Examiner checklist
| Domain | Pass behaviours |
|---|---|
| Definition | Correct working diagnosis language |
| Assessment | Focused, prioritised, red flags sought |
| Investigations | Appropriate first-line + interpretation |
| Emergency care | ABC / time-critical actions first |
| Definitive care | Specific drugs/procedures, not generic phrases |
| Safety | Recurrent oral and genital aphthous ulcers with eye inflammation - Behcet syndro |
| Safety | Young male from Silk Road region with haemoptysis and pulmonary artery aneurysm |
| Safety | Behcet with sudden visual loss - retinal vasculitis/uveitis; urgent ophthalmolog |
| Communication | Clear plan and safety-netting |
Model outline
Lead with the working diagnosis and life threats. Resuscitate before definitive tests when unstable. Use guideline-standard therapy with named agents and doses. Document escalation criteria and follow-up. A safe candidate is specific, structured, and never delays critical care for non-urgent imaging.