Markers of vascular injury in Behçet's disease associated with retinal vasculitis.
The pathogenesis of vascular damage in Behçet's disease (BD) is still unknown. We investigated anticardiolipin antibodies (AC) in a genetically homogeneous group of Italian patients with BD and retinal vasculitis. In a subset, we examined the level of factor VIII-related antigen and antiendothelial cell antibodies (AECA). We found a high prevalence of AC; AECA were not found in most of our patients. Only three patients had raised levels of factor VIII-related antigen, all of whom had systemic involvement. We believe BD may be considered as a vasculitis of unknown origin in which several and different pathogenetic factors may play a role.
Pivetti-Pezzi
P
P
Istituto di Oftalmologia, Universita La Sapienza di Roma, Italy.
Priori
R
R
Catarinelli
G
G
Meroni
P L
PL
Federici
A B
AB
Abdulaziz
M
M
Falco
M
M
Valesini
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000032:analysis; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000276:immunology; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000276:immunology*; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000276:immunology*
D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; D015415:Biomarkers; D005169:Factor VIII