Fever of unknown origin as the initial presenting sign of Behcet's disease

WOS: 000240109600017PubMed: 16938744

Hepatitis C virus and Behcet's disease

WOS: 000230962700030PubMed: 16048588

Serum soluble CD30 levels in Behçet's disease

PubMed: 15515777Behçet's disease is associated with the inflammatory response. Several reports indicate the presence of primarily CD4+ T cells of the Th1 subtype in the inflammation process of the disease. Serum soluble CD30 (sCD30) is reported to be released from CD4+ Th2 type cells and has been suggested to be a marker of Th2 activity. In this study, serum sCD30 levels were measured in active and inactive patients with Behçet's disease, healthy controls and a group of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, typical Th1 disorder using enzyme immunoassay kit. Mean sCD30 value of 54 active patients were found significantly higher than in those of 17 inactive patients (p = 0.027), 20 healthy controls (p = 0.040) and 25 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between increased sCD30 levels and clinical activity index in active patients with Behçet's disease. High serum levels of sCD30 may reflect the activation qf CD4+ T cells or a subset of them in active BD patients. In addition to serum sCD30 levels, measurements of the Th2 cytokines may be a helpful tool for the evaluation of Th2 activity in Behçet's disease. © Copyright Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 2004

Significant elevation of serum soluble CD14 levels in patients with brucellosis

Birengel, Serhat/0000-0002-5599-6488WOS: 000227398900003PubMed: 15728983Activation of macrophages represents one of the initial events in innate immunity to intracellular infections. CD 14 is expressed principally by cells of monocyte/macrophage lineage and plays a pivotal role in innate recognition of bacterial cell wall components, particularly lipopolysaccharides. We measured serum concentrations of soluble CD14 (sCDl4) in serum samples obtained from 37 patients with brucellosis and 36 healthy controls. Serum levels of sCD14 were significantly increased in patients with brucellosis compared with those in healthy controls (P < 0.001). Re-analysis of serum samples after treatment in 25 patients demonstrated that treatment did not result in any significant decline in sCD14 levels. Despite a limited study population, these findings may implicate CD14 signaling as an important component of the initial anti-brucellar host response and suggest that activation of mononuclear phagocytic system is sustained even following effective treatment

Vasculopathic skin lesions following epilation, leading to a discovery of hepatitis C virus infection

WOS: 000244003200030PubMed: 17137479

An unusually extensive case of cutaneous anthrax in a patient with type II diabetes mellitus

WOS: 000232240400010PubMed: 16197380Naturally acquired anthrax infection remains an important public-health problem in developing countries. Turkey is one of the countries in which the zoonotic form of anthrax may still be encountered. The most frequent portal of entry for anthrax spores is the skin. Although cutaneous anthrax is usually self-limiting, complications may arise in untreated cases. Underlying systemic disorders such as diabetes mellitus may confound the clinical picture and lead to atypical presentations. We present an unusually extensive case of cutaneous anthrax in a patient with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus

Evidence of chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in patients with Behcet's disease

Ozturk Durmaz, Emel/0000-0003-0661-9720WOS: 000222351100005PubMed: 15307562Behcet's disease is a chronic vasculitis of unknown aetiology. Particular viral and bacterial pathogens have long been suspected of playing a role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Chlamydia pneumoniae is an intracellular bacterium capable of causing chronic infections. Some reports have suggested that the microorganism might be involved in the pathogenesis of vasculitis. The purpose of the present study was to investigate a possible correlation between C. pneumoniae infection and Behcet's disease. For this purpose, 90 consecutive patients with Behcet's disease and 50 healthy controls were enrolled. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG antibodies to C. pneumoniae were determined by 2 different techniques, namely indirect fluorescent antibody assay (IFA) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). IgA antibodies to C. pneumoniae were detected in 17 (18.9%) patients with Behcet's disease and in 1 (2%) healthy control by IFA. By ELISA 27 patients (30.0%) and 6 controls (12.0%) had C. pneumoniae IgA. A significant difference was observed for IgA seropositivity between the 2 groups. Although IgG seropositivity between the 2 groups did not differ significantly, the number of individuals with IgG titres of greater than or equal to 1: 1000 was significantly higher in the patient group (43.1%) compared with the control group (13.9%). These finding provide serological evidence of chronic C. pneumoniae infection in association with Behcet's disease

Association Between Tuberculosis and Atopy: Role of the CD14-159C/T Polymorphism

WOS: 000305365200007PubMed: 22697010Background: The development of allergic hypersensitivity depends on both genetic and environmental factors. Different amounts of microbial products could affect patients with atopy and different genotypes. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the role of varying degrees of exposure to infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (tuberculosis) in atopic patients and analyze the association with genetic factors. Methods: We performed CD14-159C/T genotyping in atopic patients (n=118) and healthy individuals (n=62) and recorded the following variables: rural lifestyle, exposure to persons with tuberculosis, bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination, tuberculin skin test (TST), skin prick test, and phenotypes of atopy. Blood samples were analyzed for soluble-CD14 (sCD14), interferon (IFN) gamma, total immunoglobulin (Ig) E, and eosinophil levels. A score was used to identify the likelihood of exposure to tuberculosis. Results: Almost all the study participants had had a BCG vaccination, and half had a positive TST result. No differences were observed between atopic patients with high/low tuberculosis scores and CD14 genotypes in terms of atopic phenotypes, allergen sensitization, and levels of total IgE, sCD14, and IFN-gamma. However, the frequency of asthma was higher in atopic patients with a high tuberculosis score and was not associated with CD14 genotypes. Eosinophil counts in blood were higher in atopic patients with a high tuberculosis score and CC+CT genotypes. Conclusions: These results suggest that the C allele of the CD14-159C/T polymorphism has a marked effect on eosinophil levels in atopic patients with increased exposure to tuberculosis. In addition, the degree of exposure to tuberculosis in atopic patients may modify the development of asthma.Kirikkale UniversityKirikkale University [2008/5]This work was supported by a grant from Kirikkale University Projects of Scientific Research (Grant No. 2008/5) awarded to Drs Baccioglu Kavut, Kalpaklioglu, and Ayaslioglu. None of the authors have any other financial disclosures to make

Response to vaccination against hepatitis B in patients with Behcet's disease

ERKEK, BULENT/0000-0002-9041-341XWOS: 000231611700006PubMed: 16174066Background and Aims: Hepatitis B virus infection is an important public health problem in Turkey. Although hepatitis B vaccination is regarded as safe and effective for the general population, recommendations for hepatitis B immunization in patients with Behcet's disease are not clear. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the response of patients with Behcet's disease to hepatitis B vaccination and to determine whether hepatitis B vaccination has any adverse effects on the course of the disease. Methods: Thirteen patients with Behcet's disease and 15 healthy individuals were enrolled into a prospective study. All subjects received the 3-dose series of routine hepatitis B vaccine. Anti-hepatitis B surface response was evaluated 1-3 months after the third dose of vaccine. Results: The responder rates for patient and control groups were 12/13 (92.8%) and 14/15 (93.8%), respectively. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference between the two groups in terms of both the responder rates and mean antibody titers. Conclusions: These preliminary findings might suggest that the majority of patients with Behcet's disease develop protective antibody response after hepatitis B vaccination and that the immune response against hepatitis B surface antigen is adequate, efficient and intact. (C) 2005 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd

Cytokine inhibitors: soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in Behcet's disease

WOS: 000226665600001PubMed: 14600787Serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor alpha, (TNF-alpha), and their inhibitors, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and soluble TNF receptor 1 (sTNFR1), were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 104 patients with Behcet's disease (65 active, 39 inactive) and 40 healthy controls. The levels of IL-1beta and IL-1ra were significantly higher in both active and inactive patients than in control subjects (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01, respectively). The concentrations of TNF-alpha and sTNFR1 were found to be higher in active patients than in controls (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). There were no significant differences in the serum levels of these cytokines and their inhibitors between active and inactive patients. Significant increases in mean C-reactive protein level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were found in patients with active vs inactive disease (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively). C-reactive protein values correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate but not with cytokines or their inhibitors. Our conclusion is that elevated serum TNF-alpha and sTNFR1 seem to be important inflammatory mediators in Behcet's disease. The statistically significant increase in these levels may arise from the severity of inflammation in the tissue or organ involved