The prevalence of atopy in patients with familial Mediterranean fever and Behçet's disease.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of atopy in patients with Behçet's disease (BD) and familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).


METHODS
In this study, 42 BD patients, 40 FMF patients and 49 healthy subjects were included. The skin test was applied to the whole group. If one or more allergen response was equal or greater than histamine response, it was accepted as atopy. At the same time, total serum IgE and peripheral blood eosinophil levels were also determined.


RESULTS
The frequency of atopy was found to be 2.4% (1/42 patients) in BD patients and 5% (2/40 patients) in FMF patients and 16.3% (8/49 individuals) in healthy controls. In the BD patients, positivity to skin prick test was significantly lower than the control group (p=0.035). The mean serum total IgE level and eosinophil counts did not differ between the three groups. In 33.3% of BD patients, 39.8% of FMF patients and 20.8% of controls levels of IgE lower than 20 kU/L were found (both groups p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The related conditions with Th-2 cell response such as atopy seem to be low frequency in BD and FMF patients.
Division of Rheumatolgy, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey. burakdefy@hotmail.com.
Ayten
A
Yazici
Emel
E
Orge Gonullu
Bulent
B
Kardes
Ayse
A
Cefle
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D007073:Immunoglobulin E