RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LIPID-PEROXIDATION AND DISEASE-ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH BEHCETS-DISEASE

Behcet's disease is a chronic multi-systemic disorder which is charact erized by a relapsing systemic inflammatory process. The alteration of lipid profile and lipid peroxidation resulting from the inflammatory process may be associated with an increased risk for atherosclerosis i n patients with Behcet's disease. We investigated lipids, lipoprotein and lipid peroxidation and their inter-relationships considering the d isease activity. Eighteen patients (11 male and 7 female) and 20 age-m atched healthy subjects (10 male and 10 female) were studied. Lipid pr ofile including total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, HDL-cholesterol, L DL-cholesterol, lipoprotein(a), apoAI and apoB, and acute phase reacta nts including polymorphonuclear (PMN) elastase, PMN leukocyte count, e rythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and complements (C-3, C-4) were ev aluated in patients in active and inactive periods of Behcet's disease and control subjects. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive subs tance (TBARS) were assessed as an indicator of lipid peroxidation. Lip id peroxidation was found to be increased in the active period compare d to the inactive period of the disease and control subjects. Also, li pid peroxidation showed correlations of various degrees with atherogen ic lipid parameters in both periods of the followed-up patients. In co nclusion, patients with Behcet's disease in the active period may be m uch more susceptible to atherogenic events than those in the inactive period of the disease and control subjects. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.