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

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

Plasma thrombomodulin levels in patients with Behçet's disease

PubMed: 12739044The plasma levels of thrombomodulin in 54 patients with Behçet's disease (BD) and 20 healthy control subjects were studied. The mean thrombomodulin (TM) level was significantly higher in active BD patients than in inactive patients and healthy controls (P < 0.001 and <0.01, respectively). Plasma TM levels did not show a significant relation with clinical manifestations. Increased plasma TM levels are associated with active disease and may reflect the presence of endothelial cell activation and/or injury

Plasma thrombomodulin levels in patients with Behcet's disease

WOS: 000183552400008PubMed: 12739044The plasma levels of thrombomodulin in 54 patients with Behcet's disease (BD) and 20 healthy control subjects were studied. The mean thrombomodulin (TM) level was significantly higher in active BD patients than in inactive patients and healthy controls (P<0.001 and <0.01, respectively). Plasma TM levels did not show a significant relation with clinical manifestations. Increased plasma TM levels are associated with active disease and may reflect the presence of endothelial cell activation and/or injury

Epilepsy and autoimmunity in pediatric patients.

Our aim was to determine the presence and possible role of autoantibodies in epileptic patients with an undetermined etiology. Eighty epilepsy patients, who were referred to the Pediatric Neurology Department at Ankara University between November 2011 and April 2012, were enrolled in the study. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anticardiolipin IgG, antiphospholipid, antithyroid peroxidase, paraneoplastic, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antibodies were studied in our university laboratory. In addition, NMDA receptor (NMDAR), voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC)-complex, leucine-rich, glioma inactivated 1 (LGI1) and contactin-associated protein 2 (CASPR2) antibodies were studied at the Oxford University Immunology Laboratory. The study included 35 girls (44%) and 45 boys (56%) with a mean symptom age of 8.6 ± 4.53 years. ANA was detected in 15 (18.8%), antiphospholipid Ab in 3 (3.75%), anticardiolipin Ab in 1 (1.25%), and antithyroid peroxidase in 3 (3.75%) epileptic patients. In addition, anti-GAD Ab was detected in 7 (8.75%), anti-Yo Ab in 3 (3.75%), and anti-Ma2 in 3 (3.75%) epileptic patients. Anti-VGKC was positive in 13 (16.25%) epileptic patients. We performed a pioneer study to investigate the association between autoimmunity and pediatric epilepsy and we conclude that autoimmunity should be considered in epileptic patients with an undetermined etiology

Antígenos leucocitarios humanos A y B en pacientes turcos con sarcoidosis

Objetivo: En varios estudios se ha demostrado la existencia de asociaciones entre los antígenos leucocitarios humanos (HLA) y la sarcoidosis. El objetivo de nuestro estudio ha sido la investigación de estas asociaciones en pacientes turcos. Pacientes y método: Se ha realizado la tipificación HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C y HLA-C en 83 pacientes con sarcoidosis y en 250 controles sanos mediante un método de microlinfocitotoxicidad, con objeto de determinar la susceptibilidad frente a la enfermedad. Resultados: Debido a la importante violación del equilibrio de Hardy-Weinberg en los loci HLA-C y HLA-DQB1, sólo se utilizaron los resultados obtenidos en los demás loci HLA. Aunque las frecuencias de los alelos HLA-A9, HLA-B5 y HLA-B8 fueron significativamente mayores en el grupo de pacientes que en el grupo control (cociente de posibilidades [CP] = 21,8, p = 0,015; CP = 9,34, p = 0,049; CP = 2,26, p = 0,031, respectivamente), ninguna de estas diferencias mantuvo la significación estadística tras la aplicación de la corrección de Bonferroni. Los alelos HLA-A24, HLA-A26 y HLA-B62 fueron significativamente menos frecuentes en el grupo de pacientes que en el grupo de controles (CP = 0,48, p = 0,018; CP = 0,19, p = 0,003; CP = 0,11, p = 0,044, respectivamente). Sin embargo, las diferencias tampoco fueron estadísticamente significativas después de la corrección de Bonferroni. Conclusiones: Estos resultados indican que los HLA pueden desempeñar una función significativa (con aumento o reducción del riesgo) en la patogenia de la sarcoidosis, así como en sus diferentes formas clínicas y en sus alteraciones analíticas