 |
|
|
 |
Serum Mannose-Binding Lectin Levels Are Decreased in Behçet's Disease and Associated with Disease Severity
NEVSUN INANC, GONCA MUMCU, EL.IF B.IRTAS, YES.IM ELB.IR, SULE YAVUZ, TULIN ERGUN, IZZET FRESKO, and HANER DIRESKENELI
ABSTRACT. Methods. MBL levels were measured in sera of 130 patients with BD, 64 patients with recurrent oral ulcerations (ROU), and 105 healthy controls (HC) with ELISA. Results. Patients with BD had significantly lower median serum MBL levels compared to HC (1857 vs 3136 ng/ml, p = 0.001). No significant difference was observed in median serum MBL levels between BD and ROU (2309 ng/ml, p = 0.252). Low MBL levels (≤ 500 ng/ml) were present in a higher proportion of BD patients compared to HC (29% vs 16%, p = 0.021). A severe disease course (total clinical severity score ≥ 4) was more frequently observed in BD patients with very low serum MBL levels (≤ 100 ng/ml) (19% vs 6%, p = 0.046). When serum MBL levels were analyzed separately according to gender, the frequency of vascular disease was higher in men with very low serum MBL levels (80% vs 42%, p = 0.042). Conclusions. MBL deficiency might contribute to the pathogenesis of BD and affect its clinical course. (J Rheumatol 2005;32:287-91) Key Indexing Terms:
MANNOSE-BINDING LECTIN
From the Divisions of Rheumatology and Hematology-Immunology and Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Marmara; Division of Rheumatology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, University of Istanbul; and Division of Basic Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Education, University of Marmara, Istanbul, Turkey. Supported by The Society for Education and Research in Rheumatology (RAED). N. Inanc, MD, Resident in Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine; G. Mumcu, Dentist, PhD in Oral Diagnosis and Radiology, Assistant Professor of Basic Health Science, Faculty of Health Education; E.Birtas, MD, Resident in Hematology-Immunology; Y. Elbir, MSc in Hematology-Immunology; S.Yavuz, MD, Associate Professor of Rheumatology; T. Ergun, MD, Professor of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Marmara; I. Fresko, MD, Associate Professor of Rheumatology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, University of Istanbul; H. Direskeneli, MD, Professor of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Marmara. Address reprint requests to Dr. N. Inanc, Fahrettin Kerim Gökay Cad. Gül Ap. No: 168/13, 81080 Göztepe, Istanbul, Turkey. E-mail: nevsun@superonline.com Submitted March 12, 2004; revision accepted September 29, 2004. |