title: Clinical significance of Angiopoietin-1 in Behcet's disease patients with vascular involvement.
abstract: Behcet's disease (BD) is a chronic multisystem inflammatory disorder of unclear etiology. Vascular inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and angiogenesis may be in part responsible for the pathogenesis of BD. Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) is a recent angiogenic mediator. The aim of the present study was to assess Ang-1 in the plasma of BD patients as well as to analyze its association with clinical, and laboratory parameters of the disease. The present study included 47 BD patients and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Demographic, clinical, disease activity and severity were prospectively assessed. Plasma Ang-1 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The plasma level of Ang-1 in BD patients was significantly lower than healthy controls (p = 0.005). Plasma Ang-1 level in patients with vascular affection was significantly lower than those without vascular affection (p = 0.045). Levels of Ang-1 showed a significant positive correlation with steroid dose. Patients who received cyclophosphamide or steroids showed a significant increase in plasma Ang-1 level. This was further confirmed by the results of the multivariate analysis. There was no significant association between plasma Ang-1 levels and other clinical manifestations or disease activity and severity. Plasma Ang-1 levels were diminished in our BD patients especially in patients with vascular involvement. Larger studies with further investigations of the precise role of Ang-1 in the pathogenesis of BD are needed and might lead to novel therapies for the clinical management of BD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, El-Kasr El-Aini Hospital, Cairo University, Cairo, 12613, Egypt. iman.bassyouni@kasralainy.edu.eg.
authors.forename: Iman H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Bassyouni
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, El-Kasr El-Aini Hospital, Cairo University, Cairo, 12613, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharaf
authors.affiliation: Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Iman E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Wali
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Department, Faculty of Medicine, Six of October University, 6th of October, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hossam M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Mansour
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D042683:Angiopoietin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: C467630:ANGPT1 protein, human; D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D015415:Biomarkers; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013256:Steroids; D003520:Cyclophosphamide
keywords: Angiogenesis; Angiopoietin; Behcet’s disease; Vasculitis