title: Serum eosinophil cationic protein levels in Behçet's disease and its relation to clinical activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is a matrix protein of eosinophils and has been reported to reflect eosinophil activity. Few studies have examined the role of eosinophils in the pathogenesis of Behçet's disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to investigate the serum ECP levels in BD and its relation to clinical activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven consecutive patients with BD (22 active, 25 inactive), 21 age and sex matched patients with allergic rhinitis and 21 healthy controls were evaluated cross-sectionally. The serum ECP levels were measured by the flourescein enzyme immunoassay method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean serum ECP levels of active patients with BD (34.28 ± 23.43 μg/L) were found to be significantly lower than those of the inactive patients (65.69 ± 46.32 μg/L, p <0.05) and the controls (62.92 ± 30.49 μg/L, p <0.01) . Behçet patients with oral aphthous lesions had significantly lower mean serum ECP levels (n=21, 38.82 ± 33.38 μg/L) than those without aphthous lesions (n=26, 60.81 ± 43.21μg/L) (p = 0.041). Similarly patients with arthritis had lower serum ECP values (n=6, 22.12 ± 9.47 μg/L) than those without arthritis (n = 41, 55.21 ± 41.35 μg/L) (p =0.029).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower ECP levels in the active phase of the disease may be a result of decreased production due to the activation of Th1 cytokines.
authors.affiliation: Cukurova University, Rheumatology-Immunology Department, Adana, Turkey. arslan_didem@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Didem Arslan
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Tas
authors.forename: Huseyin T E
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Ozer
authors.forename: Eren
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erken
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein / Q000097:blood*; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein