PubMedID: 23517396Background: Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is a matrix protein of eosinophils and has been reported to reflect eosinophil activity. Few studies have examined the role of eosinophils in the pathogenesis of Behçet's disease. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the serum ECP levels in BD and its relation to clinical activity. Methods: Forty-seven consecutive patients with BD (22 active, 25 inactive), 21 age and sex matched patients with allergic rhinitis and 21 healthy controls were evaluated cross-sectionally. The serum ECP levels were measured by the flourescein enzyme immunoassay method. Results: Mean serum ECP levels of active patients with BD (34.28 ± 23.43 µg/L) were found to be significantly lower than those of the inactive patients (65.69 ± 46.32 µg/L, p <0.05) and the controls (62.92 ± 30.49 µg/L, p <0.01). Behçet patients with oral aphthous lesions had significantly lower mean serum ECP levels (n=21, 38.82 ± 33.38 µg/L) than those without aphthous lesions (n=26, 60.81 ± 43.21µg/L) (p = 0.041). Similarly patients with arthritis had lower serum ECP values (n=6, 22.12 ± 9.47 µg/L) than those without arthritis (n = 41, 55.21 ± 41.35 µg/L) (p =0.029). Conclusions: Lower ECP levels in the active phase of the disease may be a result of decreased production due to the activation of Th1 cytokines
