Do nonobese patients with Behçet's disease have insulin resistance?

Some studies have investigated the relationship between Behçet's disease (BD) and insulin resistance; however, since they did not exclude obese patients from their sample, it remains unclear whether BD itself causes insulin resistance independently of obesity.

The study included 60 patients with BD and 45 age-, gender-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy controls. Obese patients with a BMI of ≥30 kg/m² were excluded. Insulin resistance according to the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), fasting plasma glucose, and one-hour and two-hour plasma glucose in the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT 1-h and OGTT 2-h PG, respectively) were evaluated in all patients.

The mean fasting plasma glucose levels and the rate of those with impaired glucose tolerance according to OGTT 2-h PG were significantly higher in the BD patients compared to the controls. The rates of those with insulin resistance according to HOMA-IR and QUICKI were significantly higher in the BD patients than in the controls. When compared to the control group, the rates of those with impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance were significantly higher, and the mean QUICKI value was significantly lower in the active group, in contrast to the inactive group.

Insulin resistance occurs in BD patients independently of obesity. In the follow-up of BD patients, especially in the active phase, not only fasting blood glucose but also other diagnostic tests for insulin resistance should be added to the examination panels.