title: Vitamin levels in Behçet's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the role of oxidative stress and the antioxidant defense mechanism in the etiopathogenesis of active and inactive Behçets disease. In line with this objective, the present study aimed to examine the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA), which are the end products of oxidant stress, and vitamins, which are non-enzymatic antioxidants, for the diagnosis and particularly the follow-up of Behçet's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of a total of 60 individuals: 40 of whom were Behçet's disease patients and 20 were healthy individuals. Of the 40 Behçet's patients, 29 had the active and 11 had the inactive (stable) form of the disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although plasma MDA and NO (its stable form nitrite) levels in the total patient group were statistically significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.06), there was no statistically significant difference as such between inactive Behçet's patients and the control group (p>0.05). Vitamin E, C, B1, B2 and flavin mononucleotide (FMN) values were significantly lower in the patient group in comparison with the control group (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in other vitamin values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is contemplated that measurement of such oxidative stress factors as MDA and NO and an accompanying evaluation of the antioxidant defense system can be significant in the diagnosis and treatment follow-up of Behçet's disease.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey. basakkc@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Basak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kandi
authors.forename: Demet
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cicek
authors.forename: Nevin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ilhan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D014815:Vitamins / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde