Decreased serum level of antibody against human cytomegalovirus in patients with Behçet's disease.
Behçet's disease (BD) is a connective tissue disorder characterized by recurrent orogenital ulcer, uveitis, and skin lesions. Recurrent aphthous ulcer is associated with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). To investigate the possible role of HCMV in BD, we measured the titers of IgG, IgM, and IgA anti-HCMV antibodies in 73 Korean patients with BD, 50 with scleroderma, 70 with systemic lupus erythematosus, and 50 from healthy controls by indirect immunofluorescent staining. The titer of IgG anti-HCMV antibody was significantly lower in patients with BD than in controls (geometric mean 3115.4 vs 9687.6, P = 0.0001 by Wilcoxon's rank sum test), as was the titer of IgA anti-HCMV antibody (geometric mean 1.9 vs 15.7, P = 0.0001, Wilcoxon's rank sum test). In conclusion, we found significantly lower antibody responses to HCMV in patients with BD.
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Yongon-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul, Korea.
Eun Bong
EB
Lee
Ye Jin
YJ
Kwon
Ki Chul
KC
Shin
Yeong Wook
YW
Song
Chung-Gyu
CG
Park
Eung-Soo
ES
Hwang
Chang-Yong
CY
Cha
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007136:Immunoglobulins