A rare, multisystem, chronic, recurrent disease of unknown cause, marked by ulceration of the mouth and genitalia and by uveitis. The central nervous system, blood vessels, joints, and intestinal tract may be involved. It is genetically associated with HLA-B51. The disease occurs worldwide but is most common in the eastern Mediterranean area and eastern Asia. In these areas it occurs mostly in young men and is a leading cause of blindness. In the Western world, where the disease is less severe, it affects men twice as frequently as it does women but is not a leading cause of blindness. The period between attacks is irregular but may be as short as days or as long as years. The syndrome is also known as Behcet’s disease, or cutaneomucouveal syndrome.