Serum interleukin 18 and tumour necrosis factor-α levels are increased in Behcet's disease

• Published in: Clinical and experimental dermatology Vol. 30; no. 1; pp. 61 - 63
• Main Authors: Oztas, M. O., Onder, M., Gurer, M. A., Bukan, N., Sancak, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.01.2005; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adult; Behcet Syndrome - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Humans; Interleukin-18 - blood; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism; Human; Skin disease; Stomatology; Dermatology; Cardiovascular disease; Behçet syndrome; Genital diseases; Interleukin 18; Vascular disease; Eye disease; Vasculitis; Systemic disease; Serum; Tumor necrosis factor α
• ISSN: 0307-6938; 1365-2230
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2004.01684.x

Summary Inflammation in Behcet's disease is thought to be mediated by cytokines derived from T‐helper type 1 (Th1) lymphocytes. In this study, we tried to determine serum interleukin (IL)‐18 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α levels of patients with Behcet's disease. Twenty‐seven patients with active Behcet's disease, and 20 healthy control subjects were included in this study. Differences between mean serum IL‐18 and TNF‐α level of patients with Behcet's disease were significantly increased when compared with the control group. A significant correlation was found between serum IL‐18 and TNF‐α levels of Behcet patients (rs = 0.627, P < 0.0001). IL‐18 and TNF‐α levels may be related to disease pathogenesis. Increased levels of IL‐18 also support Th1 predominance in Behcet's disease.