Markers of Endothelial Dysfunction and Evaluation of Vascular Reactivity Tests in Behcet Disease

Abstract

We assessed endothelial dysfunction (ED) in patients with Behcet disease (BD; n = 40) and healthy controls (n= 20). Serum lipid, homocysteine, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESRs), and ultrasonographic flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) were measured. Mean hsCRP, ESR, homocysteine, and ADMA were significantly higher in the BD group (P <.001 for all). Patients with active BD had higher serum levels of hsCRP, homocysteine, and ESR compared with those in remission (P <.001, P <.001, and P =.005, respectively). Flow-mediated dilatation was significantly lower in patients with BD than in controls (P =.001). Flow-mediated dilatation correlated negatively with BD duration and serum ADMA levels (P <.001, r =-.745 and P <.001, r = -.682); a positive correlation was seen between serum ADMA levels and BD duration (P <.001, r =.552). Only stepwise multivariate regression analysis revealed BD duration to have a significant effect on FMD. Flow-mediated dilatation, in conjunction with markers of inflammation, may evaluate ED in patients with BD.