Clinical significance of endocan in Behçet’s disease patients: A potential marker of disease activity

Abstract

BackgroundEndothelial cell dysfunction has been described in Behçet disease (BD) not only as a cause of major vascular events but also related to chronic inflammation in different organ systems. Aim of the workTo study the relation of serum endocan, a marker of endothelial dysfunction, with clinical manifestations and disease activity in BD patients. Patients and methodsThis study included 23 BD patients and 23 matched controls. Disease activity was assessed by the Behcet Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF). Serum endocan was measured in all subjects. ResultsThe mean age of the patients was 32.5 ± 6.8 years and they were 16 males and 7 females (M:F 2.3:1) with mean disease duration of 7 ± 5.2 years. Their mean BDCAF was 2.26 ± 1.32. A significant difference was found between serum endocan level among active patients 328.24 ± 195.3 ng/L, inactive patients (169.8 ± 35.7 ng/L) and controls (160.6 ± 39.7 ng/L)(p = 0.001). Patients with genital ulcers, papulopastular lesions and arthritis at the time of the study had higher serum endocan level than those without (p = 0.002, p = 0.006 and p = 0.0001 respectively). Serum endocan levels correlated significantly with the BDCAF, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, platelet lymphocyte ratio and C-reactive protein (r = 0.94, p = 0.0001; r = 0.82, p = 0.0001, r = 0.44, p = 0.04 and r = 0.48, p = 0.02 respectively). The optimum serum endocan cut-off point for active BD was 191.5 ng/L with a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 86% respectively (area under curve 0.99, 95% confidence interval 0.96-1). ConclusionSerum endocan may serve as a potential marker of disease activity in BD. Patients with genital ulcers, papulopastular lesions and arthritis showed higher serum endocan levels.