Balta I, Balta S, Koryurek OM, Demirkol S, Mikhailidis DP, Celik T, Cakar M, Kucuk U, Eksioglu M, Kurt YG. Serum endocan levels as a marker of disease activity in patients with Behçet disease.
J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014;70:291-296. [PMID:
24176522 DOI:
10.1016/j.jaad.2013.09.013]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2013] [Revised: 09/02/2013] [Accepted: 09/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Endocan is a novel human endothelial cell-specific molecule. The central role of leukocytes and endothelial dysfunction in the development of Behçet disease (BD) led us to hypothesize that endocan might be a marker of this disease.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the relationship between serum levels of endocan and disease activity in patients with BD.
METHODS
In all, 33 patients (16 active, 17 inactive) with BD and 35 healthy persons were included in the study. Endocan and C-reactive protein were measured in all subjects.
RESULTS
Patients with BD had significantly higher serum endocan levels. Mean serum levels of endocan were 1.29 ± 0.60 ng/mL (range: 0.58-2.99) in patients with BD and 0.75 ± 0.16 ng/mL (range: 0.48-1.21) in control subjects (P < .001). In patients with BD, serum endocan levels correlated moderately but significantly with C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and disease activity. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis suggested that the optimum endocan level cut-off point for patients with BD was 0.87 ng/mL, with a sensitivity and specificity of 75.8% and 80%, respectively (area under curve 0.835, 95% confidence interval 0.738-0.932).
LIMITATIONS
The main limitation of our study is the relatively small sample size.
CONCLUSIONS
Circulating endocan may be a marker of BD activity.
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