Increased plasma adrenomedullin and serum lipoprotein (a) levels in patients with Behcet's disease

Abstract

AbstractTo investigate the levels of adrenomedullin (ADM) and lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] and their correlation and interaction with disease activity in Behcet's disease (BD), we measured the levels of ADM, Lp(a), α 1-antitrypsin (AAT), α 2-macroglobulin (AMG), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in 35 patients (15 men) with BD (15 active) and 20 healthy volunteers (12 men) serving as controls. The disease activity was evaluated by clinical manifestations (oral aphthous ulcer, genital ulceration, skin lesions and uveitis) and by laboratory investigations (ESR and CRP). The levels of ADM, Lp(a), AAT, AMG, ESR, and CRP were found to be increased in patients with BD compared with those of the control group. The mean levels of those parameters in patients with active BD were significantly higher than those of the patients with inactive BD and of the control group. Similarly, the mean values of those parameters in the inactive BD group were higher than those of the control group. The...