PLASMA LIPOPROTEIN(A) AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH DISEASE-ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH BEHCETS-DISEASE

Behcet's disease is characterized by orogenital ulcerations and ocular lesions. Other features include arthritis, thrombophlebitis, neurolog ical abnormalities and skin lesions. The disease is characterized by a relapsing inflammatory process of unknown aetiology. Lipoprotein(a) i s an LDL-like particle with a large glycoprotein called apolipoprotein (a) attached to its apolipoprotein B moiety through one or more disulp hide bonds. Apolipoprotein(a) is related to plasminogen from which the enzyme plasmin, that hydrolyses fibrin blood clots, is released by ti ssue plasminogen activators. The unique structural features of Lp(a) g ive it the potential for atherogenic and thrombogenic activities. In t he present study 35% of patients with Behcet's disease were shown to h ave higher Lp(a) concentrations than the cut-off point (0.30 g/l) for atherosclerosis. Plasma Lp(a) concentrations in the remission period w ere also found to be lower than during the active period in the same p atients (23% decreased). Lp(a) showed significant correlations with ac ute phase reactants such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate, polymorpho nuclear leukocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocyte elastase activity. Therefore, it was concluded that the fluctations of plasma Lp(a) level s with the activity of disease may be a contributing risk factor in th e development of thrombogenic complications in patients with Behcet's disease.