Clinical and immunological effects of azithromycin in Behçet's disease.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of azithromycin on mucocutaneous manifestations, oral health and immune response in Behçet's disease (BD).


METHODS
Eight BD patients with active mucocutaneous symptoms were treated with azithromycin for 4 weeks. Oral health, clinical manifestations and in vitro interleukin (IL)-12, interferon (IFN)-gamma, IL-10 and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 responses were evaluated before and after treatment.


RESULTS
The number of folliculitic lesions, healing time of oral ulcers and scores of plaque indexes (PLIs) were lower after azithromycin treatment (P<0.05). Scores of PLIs correlated positively with the healing time of oral ulcers (P=0.02). Although a trend towards increased stimulated IL-10 responses with azithromycin was observed, no statistically significant difference was found. Stimulated and unstimulated MCP-1, IFN-gamma and IL-12 responses were similar before and after treatment (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Azithromycin was observed to be effective in decreasing folliculitic lesions and fastening the healing time of oral ulcers in BD.
Mumcu
G
G
Department of Basic Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Education, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey. goncamumcu@marmara.edu.tr
Ergun
T
T
Elbir
Y
Y
Eksioglu-Demiralp
E
E
Yavuz
S
S
Atalay
T
T
Direskeneli
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003078:Colchicine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D017963:Azithromycin; D003078:Colchicine