title: Serum interleukin 18 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha levels are increased in Behcet's disease.
abstract: Inflammation in Behcet's disease is thought to be mediated by cytokines derived from T-helper type 1 (Th1) lymphocytes. In this study, we tried to determine serum interleukin (IL)-18 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels of patients with Behcet's disease. Twenty-seven patients with active Behcet's disease, and 20 healthy control subjects were included in this study. Differences between mean serum IL-18 and TNF-alpha level of patients with Behcet's disease were significantly increased when compared with the control group. A significant correlation was found between serum IL-18 and TNF-alpha levels of Behcet patients (rs = 0.627, P < 0.0001). IL-18 and TNF-alpha levels may be related to disease pathogenesis. Increased levels of IL-18 also support Th1 predominance in Behcet's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Besevler, Ankara, Turkey. moztas@gazi.edu.tr
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Oztas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onder
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gurer
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bukan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sancak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha