Clinical significance of endocan in Behçet’s disease patients: A potential marker of disease activity

• Main Authors: Marwa A. Hammad, Shaimaa M. Abdel-Latif, Omaima Z. Shehata, Amany M. Mohiey El-Din
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2019-01-01
• Series: Egyptian Rheumatologist
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1110116418300589

Background: Endothelial cell dysfunction has been described in Behçet disease (BD) not only as a cause of major vascular events but also related to chronic inflammation in different organ systems. Aim of the work: To study the relation of serum endocan, a marker of endothelial dysfunction, with clinical manifestations and disease activity in BD patients. Patients and methods: This study included 23 BD patients and 23 matched controls. Disease activity was assessed by the Behcet Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF). Serum endocan was measured in all subjects. Results: The mean age of the patients was 32.5 ± 6.8 years and they were 16 males and 7 females (M:F 2.3:1) with mean disease duration of 7 ± 5.2 years. Their mean BDCAF was 2.26 ± 1.32. A significant difference was found between serum endocan level among active patients 328.24 ± 195.3 ng/L, inactive patients (169.8 ± 35.7 ng/L) and controls (160.6 ± 39.7 ng/L)(p = 0.001). Patients with genital ulcers, papulopastular lesions and arthritis at the time of the study had higher serum endocan level than those without (p = 0.002, p = 0.006 and p = 0.0001 respectively). Serum endocan levels correlated significantly with the BDCAF, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, platelet lymphocyte ratio and C-reactive protein (r = 0.94, p = 0.0001; r = 0.82, p = 0.0001, r = 0.44, p = 0.04 and r = 0.48, p = 0.02 respectively). The optimum serum endocan cut-off point for active BD was 191.5 ng/L with a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 86% respectively (area under curve 0.99, 95% confidence interval 0.96-1). Conclusion: Serum endocan may serve as a potential marker of disease activity in BD. Patients with genital ulcers, papulopastular lesions and arthritis showed higher serum endocan levels. Keywords: Endocan, Behçet’s disease, Endothelial dysfunction, BDCAF