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Acute phase proteins and C9 in patients with Behcet's syndrome and aphthous ulcers
Insights
Levels of C9 and C-reactive protein (CRP) are elevated in Behcet's syndrome and recurrent oral ulcers. Assays for C9 and CRP may aid in differentiating Behcet's syndrome from other oral ulcer conditions.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Behcet's syndrome is a multisystem inflammatory disease.
- Recurrent oral ulcers are a common manifestation, sometimes preceding Behcet's syndrome.
- The role of acute phase proteins in the pathogenesis of oral ulceration is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the concentrations of C9 and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with Behcet's syndrome and recurrent oral ulcers.
- To evaluate the potential diagnostic utility of C9 and CRP levels in differentiating Behcet's syndrome from recurrent oral ulcers.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples from forty patients (Behcet's syndrome and recurrent oral ulcers) were analyzed.
- Concentrations of C9 and CRP were measured using specific assays.
- Statistical analysis was performed to compare levels between groups.
Main Results:
- Significantly increased concentrations of C9 and CRP were observed in patients with Behcet's syndrome compared to controls.
- Elevated C9 levels were also found in patients with recurrent oral ulcers, though to a lesser extent than in Behcet's syndrome.
- CRP levels were significantly higher in Behcet's syndrome patients.
Conclusions:
- C9 and CRP assays may be valuable tools for the differential diagnosis of Behcet's syndrome, particularly in distinguishing it from recurrent oral ulcers.
- Increased acute phase proteins during oral inflammation might influence immunological mechanisms, potentially contributing to the progression from oral ulcers to Behcet's syndrome.
Abstract:
Estimation of the concentration of C9, C-reactive protein (CRP) and alpha1-antitrypsin in forty sera from patients with Behcet's syndrome and recurrent oral ulcers showed significantly increased amounts of C9 and CRP in Behcet's syndrome. The concentration of C9 was also significantly raised in recurrent oral ulceration, though to a lesser extent than in Behcet's syndrome. The assay C9 and CRP might be useful in the differential diagnosis of Behcet's syndrome, especially from recurrent oral ulcers. It is suggested that during epithelial inflammation in recurrent oral ulcers some of the acute phase proteins are increased and in some patients these may modulate the immunological mechanism in such a way as to induce a transition from focal oral ulceration to the multifocal Behcet's syndrome.