title: Serum GDF-15 level in Behçet's disease: relationships between disease activity and clinical parameters.
abstract: Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), a member of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily of cytokines, plays an important role in cell growth, signal transduction, and apoptosis regulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum GDF-15 levels and their relationships with disease-related variables in patients with Behçet's disease (BD). Forty-six patients diagnosed with BD and 30 demographically matched healthy control subjects participated in the study. GDF-15 levels were measured in blood samples from patients and controls. The Behçet's Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF) was used to evaluate the disease activity of BD. There were no significant differences between the two groups in C-reactive protein (CRP) level, mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), age, body mass index, and mean GDF-15 levels (P > 0.05). Serum GDF-15 levels were positively correlated with findings for peripheral arthritis and CRP, and with BDCAF erythema nodosum, BDCAF arthralgia, and BDCAF arthritis scores. Patients with BD were divided into two groups according to the presence of peripheral arthritis; nine subjects (20%) were positive for peripheral arthritis. Serum ESR, CRP, white blood cell counts, and GDF-15 levels were significantly higher in the group that was positive for peripheral arthritis (P < 0.05). GDF-15 may play a role in the progression and pathway of Behçet's joint involvement and erythema nodosum that is independent of classic inflammatory response measures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey. makifsariyildiz@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Mustafa Akif
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sarıyıldız
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yazmalar
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: İbrahim
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Batmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mahmut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alpaycı
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Memorial Hospital, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yahya Kemal
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Burkan
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bilal
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sula
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: İbrahim
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yıldız
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zeynel Abidin
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Akar
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehtap
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000209:etiology; D001168:Arthritis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D055436:Growth Differentiation Factor 15 / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C526140:GDF15 protein, human; D055436:Growth Differentiation Factor 15; D002097:C-Reactive Protein