Behçet's Disease and Eosinophil Cationic Protein

The Serum Eosinophil Cationic Protein Levels in Behçet's Disease and Its Relation to the Clinical Activity

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. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the serum ECP levels in BD and its relation to clinical activity.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Behçet's Disease
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: eosinophil cationic protein

Detailed Description

Behçet's disease (BD) is a systemic vasculitis, characterized by recurrent oral aphthae, genital ulcers, uveitis, skin lesions, arthritis, gastrointestinal and neurologic manifestations. There has been a growing interest in research on the pathogenesis of the disease. Eosinophils has been implicated in the vascular injury associated with several vasculitis syndromes like Churg Strauss syndrome, temporal arteritis and Henoch-Schonlein purpura. In Behçet patients, serum IgE and eosinophils have been reported to be comparable with the controls but eosinophil activity has not been studied extensively. Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is a matrix protein of specific granules of eosinophils with considerable capacity to damage tissue and cells and has been reported to reflect eosinophil activity. Increased serum levels of ECP has been reported in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Several immunomodulatory features of ECP has been reported, such as inhibition of the proliferative T-lymphocyte response to antigen, immunoglobulin production, proliferation of plasma cell lines and upregulation of ICAM-1. Procoagulant effects of ECP has also been reported. The present study was conducted in patients without usage of any confounding drugs that can effect serum ECP levels. The purpose of this study was to investigate the serum ECP levels in BD and its relation to the clinical activity.

Forty-seven consecutive patients with BD (22 active, 25 inactive) meeting International Study Group Criteria , 21 age and sex matched patients with allergic rhinitis and 21 apparently healthy controls were evaluated prospectively in Rheumatology-Immunology Outpatient Clinic. Clinical activity was defined according to the criteria proposed by "Behcet's Disease Research Committee of Japan" . Activity scoring was made according to the "Behçet's Disease Research Committee of Japan" which was proposed in 1994. Organ involvements of the patients were summarized.

Patients on corticosteroids or immunosuppressives were excluded. Colchicine was stopped 10 days prior to the blood collection in inactive patients. Blood was drawn from the active patients before starting treatment. Cases with any allergy history or parasitosis were excluded.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 47

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Adana, Turkey, 01330
    • Cukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Rheumatology-Immunology Department

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Consecutive Behçet patients of the outpatient clinic of the Rheumatology-Immunology Department of University Hospital

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Consecutive Behçet patients who gave the written informed consent were included.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients on corticosteroids or immunosuppressives were excluded.Cases with any allergy history or parasitosis were excluded.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Case-Control
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

3

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Healthy controls	Other: eosinophil cationic protein; Serum eosinophil cationic protein levels; Other Names: ECP
Behçet patients	Other: eosinophil cationic protein; Serum eosinophil cationic protein levels; Other Names: ECP
Allergic rhinitis (diseased) controls	Other: eosinophil cationic protein; Serum eosinophil cationic protein levels; Other Names: ECP

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Cukurova University
• Investigators: Study Chair: Hüseyin TE Ozer, Assoc. Prof., Cukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Rheumatology-Immunology Department; Study Director: Eren Erken, Prof. Dr., Cukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Rheumatology-Immunology Department

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2002
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2002
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2002

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 24, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 24, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): April 25, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): April 26, 2012
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 25, 2012
• Last Verified: April 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Eosinophils; Behçet's disease; Eosinophil cationic protein
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cardiovascular Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Skin Diseases; Eye Diseases; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Stomatognathic Diseases; Mouth Diseases; Uveitis, Anterior; Panuveitis; Uveitis; Uveal Diseases; Vasculitis; Hereditary Autoinflammatory Diseases; Skin Diseases, Genetic; Skin Diseases, Vascular; Behcet Syndrome; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Immunologic Factors; Eosinophil Cationic Protein
• Other Study ID Numbers: TF.00.U.32.