Ann Dermatol.  1999 Jan;11(1):9-12. 10.5021/ad.1999.11.1.9.

Level of Plasma Elastase-α1- Proteinase Inhibitor in Patients with Behcet's Disease

• Shin DJ
• Lee SH
• Kim DW
• Jun JB
• Chung SL
• Kim JC

• KMID: 2383719
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.1999.11.1.9

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The common histopathology of Behget's disease is vasculitis associated with activation of neutrophils. The level of plasma elastase a 1 proteinase inhibitor (E a 1 PI), which represents the activation of neutrophils, may be a marker of Behcet's disease.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the level of plasma elastase al proteinase inhibitor to evaluate the degree of neutrophil activation in Behcet's disease. METHOD: We measured plasma elastase a 1 proteinase inhibitor in 34 cases of untreated Behcet's disease patients and 30 cases of normal individuals by an enzyme immunoassay. We also studied the differences between the levels in two clinical types of Behcet's disease, the complete and incomplete type.
RESULTS
The plasma level of elastase a 1 proteinase inhibitor was significantly higher in untreated Behcet's disease patients than in healthy controls. However, there was no significant difference between the levels in the two clinical types.
CONCLUSION
These data suggest that the elevated level of plasma elastase a 1 proteinase inhibitor may reflect a state of chronic activation of neutrophils in Behcet's disease immunologically and further studies will be needed to evaluate the clinical status of Behcet's disease patients by measuring levels of plasma elastase a 1 proteinase inhibitor.

Keyword

Behcet's disease; Elastase-α1-proteinase inhibitor; Neutrophil

MeSH Terms

Humans
Immunoenzyme Techniques
Methods
Neutrophil Activation
Neutrophils
Pancreatic Elastase
Plasma*
Vasculitis
Pancreatic Elastase