Platelet-activating factor and P-selectin activities in thrombotic and nonthrombotic Behçet's patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare plasma Platelet-activating factor (PAF) and P-selectin (CD62P) activities in Behçet's disease patients with and without thrombosis.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional and descriptive study, 30 consecutive Behçet's patients were included, 15 of them with venous thrombosis. All patients were also divided into two subgroups according to the presence or absence of clinical activity. Plasma PAF levels, basal and Ca++ ionophore (A23187)-induced leukocyte (cellular) PAF activities, and platelet-rich plasma DeltaCD62P activity (the mean fluorescent density difference between CD62P phycoerythrin-positive and -negative stains) were evaluated.


RESULTS
In the thrombotic group, plasma PAF (P=0.001), basal leukocyte PAF (P=0.017), induced leukocyte PAF (P=0.024), and DeltaCD62P (P=0.023) levels were significantly higher than in the nonthrombotic group. In the whole group of Behçet's patients, there was a positive correlation between plasma PAF and DeltaCD62P levels (r=0.533, P=0.002). When we compared clinically active and inactive patients with respect to the above parameters, there was no significant difference, irrespective of thrombosis. Plasma PAF (P=0.001), basal leukocyte PAF (P=0.004), and DeltaCD62P (P=0.038) levels were significantly higher in the presence of both clinical activity and thrombosis than of clinical activity alone.


CONCLUSIONS
Platelet-activating factor and CD62P may contribute to endothelial injury and thrombosis development in Behçet's disease. These two parameters seem related to the presence of thrombosis rather than clinical activity.
Department of Rheumatology, Suleyman Demirel University Medical School, Isparta, Turkey. ercantunc@hotmail.com
S Ercan
SE
Tunc
Kenan
K
Aksu
Gokhan
G
Keser
Fahrettin
F
Oksel
Eker
E
Doganavsargil
Timur
T
Pirildar
Tufan
T
Turk
Ender
E
Terzioglu
Afig
A
Huseyinov
D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007476:Ionophores / Q000494:pharmacology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology
D007476:Ionophores; D019007:P-Selectin; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D000001:Calcimycin