PROTEIN-S DEFICIENCY AND ANTIBODIES TO PROTEIN-S IN PATIENTS WITH BEHCETS-DISEASE

Thrombosis occurs in 20 to 30 % of patients with Behcet's disease (BD) . Most of the reported hemostatic abnormalities are related to the inf lammatory syndrom. We have assessed the activity of antithrombin III, protein C and protein S (PS), in 30 patients with ED and in 30 healthy controls Thrombosis antecedents were found in 16 patients. Antithromb in III and protein C were within the normal range, however free PS and PSactivity were significantly decreased in patients as compared to co ntrol group.PS deficiency detected in eight patients, was associated t o thrombosis in 6 of them. No correlation was found between free PS/to tal PS ratio and C4bBP levels. Antibodies to PS were screened by ELISA and were present in 6 patients,associated to PS deficiency in 4, and to thrombosis antecedents in 5 cases..PS deficiency was transient in t wo patients, associated to a persistant antiPS in one of them.These fi ndings suggest that auto-immune acquired PS deficiency may be involved in the pathogenesis of thrombotic events in ED. (C) 1997 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd.