title: Von Willebrand factor antigen levels in Behçet disease.
abstract: High von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag) levels can be found due to vascular endothelial injury in Behçet disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether there is any relationship between vWF:Ag levels and vascular or other organ involvements and acute-phase reactants in Behçet disease. Fifteen controls and 17 Behçet's patients were included; 10 had oral ulcers, 5 had genital ulcers, 3 had skin lesions, 6 had ocular involvement, 5 had arthritis, and 6 had vascular involvement. VWF:Ag levels were higher in Behçet's patients than controls. VWF:Ag levels in Behçet's patients with oral ulcers, genital ulcers, and ocular and vascular involvement were statistically higher than in the control group. Differences between vWF:Ag levels in Behçet's patients with and without organ involvement were not statistically significant. A linear correlation between serum ferritin levels and vWF:Ag levels was observed. These results demonstrate that elevated levels of plasma vWF:Ag are related to Behçet disease exacerbation rather than vascular involvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Esin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beyan
authors.forename: Begüm
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sadikoğlu
authors.forename: Esin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ertuğrul
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beyan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014841:von Willebrand Factor