title: Anti-cardiolipin and anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies in Iranian patients with Behcet's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies (ANCAs) and anti-Cardiolipin Antibodies (anti-CL Ab) in Behcet's Disease (BD) and also their roles in vascular involvement is controversial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of ANCAs and anti-CL Ab as well as their correlations with clinical manifestations in Iranian patients with BD.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case/control study, the sera from 88 patients with BD and 88 healthy controls were evaluated. The levels of ANCAs and anti-CL Ab were measured using indirect ELISA method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of anti-CL, anti-PR3 and anti-MPO (Myeloperoxidase) IgG autoantibodies between BD patients and healthy controls were not statistically different (p=0.21, p=0.28 and p=0.74, respectively). In addition, there were no significant deferences between BD patients with and without vascular involvement in the levels of anti-CL (1.42 ± 1.24 GPLU/ml and 1.58 ± 1.18 GPLU/ml, respectively; p=0.71), anti-PR3 (0.0 ± 0.0 U/ml and 0.08 ± 0.27 U/ml, respectively; p=0.10) and anti MPO (0.48 ± 0.23 U/ml and 0.52 ± 0.22 U/ml, respectively; p=0.41) IgG autoantibodies. Nevertheless, mean titer of anti-CL IgG was higher in male patients with skin rash than those without skin rash (2.2 ± 0.88 GPLU/ml and 1.11 ± 1.22 GPLU/ml, respectively; p=0.017).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While anti-CL, anti-PR3 and anti-MPO IgG autoantibodies do not play a major role in susceptibility to BD or pathogenesis of vascular involvement in our patients, anti-CL Ab might be involved in skin lesion development in Iranian male BD patients. However, the results should be confirmed in other studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, e-mail: immunol2@sums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ataollahi
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aflaki
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nazarinia
authors.forename: Saeedeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shenavandeh
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Habibagahi
authors.forename: Behrouz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gharesi-Fard
authors.forename: Eskandar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kamali-Sarvestani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000097:blood*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D002308:Cardiolipins / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005076:Exanthema / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D001324:Autoantigens; D002308:Cardiolipins