The first international conference on Behçet's Disease (BD) was held in Rome, Italy in December 1964. However, the development of a regular series of International Conferences on BD can be attributed to Professor Nihat Dilsen who organised such a conference during the Istanbul Medical Convention in 1977. This was followed by similar conferences in Tokyo (1981), London (1985), Mayo Clinic (1989), Paris (1993), Tunis (1996) and Reggio Emilia, Italy (1998), and the forthcoming one in Seoul (May 2000). The increase in interest in BD is demonstrated by the progressive reduction of the interval between International Conferences from four to two yearly and also by the inauguration of the new ISBD in Seoul.
In Tokyo in 1981 an informal discussion led to the suggestion that an International Study Group for BD (ISGBD) should be formed which took place in London in 1985. This group has enlarged currently being 29 colleagues from 19 countries representing 7 medical specialities. The members of the ISGBD have remained in contact over the years largely through the International Conferences. However, as a result of the increasing interest and research activity in BD internationally there was a request for a substantial number of new members which lead to the decision that an ISBD, with a wide membership, should be formed. The aim of the new ISBD would the broad one "to extend and communicate knowledge about BD". Inter alia this is likely to include; continuation conferences; co-ordination of research activities on an international basis while also aiming to support the individual researcher; to promote the formation of specialist working groups; to produce a newsletter; to promote, acknowledge and support research in BD, good clinical practice, CMD and teaching activities in BD; and finally to represent the interests of BD to other professional, scientific, representative and international bodies.
In the following two years a constitution was drafted which, after discussion, was amended and agreed in Reggio Emilia in 1998. This led to the nomination of an interim Acting Secretary, Advisory Committee and Council the latter being the current ISGBD. They were given the tasks of inviting applications for membership, organising the election of the first officers and council, and organising the formal inauguration of the ISBD.
At the time of writing 133 applications for full membership have been received from 25 countries representing 16 medical specialities, and one for associate membership from a representative of a patient group. It has been arranged that elections for the positions of President, President-elect and Vice-President will be held at the forthcoming International Conference in Seoul in May 2000. It was agreed, in the drafting of the constitution, that the President should nominate the Honorary Secretary and Treasurer to facilitate communication. At the same meeting the first General Assembly of Members will be held at which the ISBD will be formally inaugurated, the election of officers will be confirmed, and the Council will be elected.
Therefore, it is hoped that from May 2000 the study, research activities, education and communication, awareness and management of BD will take a further step forward.
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