title: Plasma endothelin-1 concentrations in patients with Behçet's disease.
abstract: Plasma Endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentrations were determined by radio immunoassay in 30 patients with Behçet's disease at various stages and 20 healthy subjects. Mean ET-1 plasma concentrations were significantly (p < 0.001) increased in patients with active Behçet's disease (35.99 +/- 5.06 fmol/ml, mean +/- standard error) compared to concentrations found in healthy volunteers (10.98 +/- 0.84 fmol/ml). No difference in plasma ET-1 level was observed between patients with inactive Behçet's disease (12.98 +/- 1.14 fmol/ml) and volunteers. Increased plasma levels of ET-1 in patients with Behçet's disease may be attributable to increased secretion or leakage of this mitogen from injured vascular endothelial cells. These results indicate that ET-1 may play an important pathogenetic role in the development or progression of vasculitis common to Behçet's disease. Plasma concentrations of ET-1 correlates with the activity of illness.
authors: Department of Hematology, Gülhane Military Medical Faculty, Etlik, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: A U
authors: AU
authors: Ural
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Yalcin
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Beyan
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Isimer
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Bayhan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D016232:Endothelins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D016232:Endothelins