ascorbic-acid and Behcet-Syndrome

Topics: Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Ascorbic Acid; Behcet Syndrome; Colchicine; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Inosine Pranobex; Mouthwashes; Prednisone; Stomatitis, Aphthous; Stomatitis, Herpetic; Thalidomide

Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown aetiology, and recognised as a multi-system vasculitis. It has been postulated that an imbalance of the oxidant and antioxidant systems related to the disease are important in its pathogenesis. Previous publications have reported increased levels of enzymatic antioxidant defence systems in patients with BD. The non-enzymatic antioxidant systems, including vitamin C and uric acid, were looked for in the present study. For this aim, the serum malondialdehyde (MDA), an end product of lipid peroxidation, and vitamin C and uric acid, as endogenous antioxidants, were determined in 20 patients with BD (11 in active and 9 in inactive periods) and 20 healthy subjects. The MDA level was significantly higher in both the active and inactive period patients compared with the control group (p < 0.001, p < 0.05, respectively). The MDA level was also significantly higher in the active period patients compared with the inactive period patients (p < 0.05). The vitamin C levels were significantly lower in both the active and inactive period patients compared with the control group (p < 0.001, p < 0.05, respectively). There was no significant difference in the vitamin C level between the active and inactive period patients (p > 0.05). There was also no significant difference in uric acid levels between the groups (p > 0.05). In the patients group, a negative correlation was found between the levels of serum MDA and vitamin C (r=-0.517; p < 0.05). Our results indicate that decreased vitamin C and increased MDA levels reflect the increased levels of oxidative stress in BD patients, and this situation may be important in relation with its pathogenesis.

Topics: Adenosine Deaminase; Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Behcet Syndrome; Blood Sedimentation; Female; Humans; Lipoproteins, LDL; Male; Malondialdehyde; Middle Aged

We sought to test the hypothesis that vascular endothelial function is impaired in Behçet's syndrome and reflects increased levels of oxidative stress.. Behçet's syndrome is a multisystem inflammatory disorder commonly complicated by vascular thrombosis and arterial aneurysm formation. The precise mechanisms underlying vascular disease in Behçet's syndrome are not known.. We studied 19 patients with Behçet's syndrome (18 to 50 years old, 9 men) and 21 healthy volunteers (18 to 50 years old, 10 men). Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (endothelium-dependent), and nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced dilation (endothelium-independent) were measured. To investigate oxidative stress mechanisms, vascular studies were repeated 1 h after administration of vitamin C (1 g, intravenous) in 12 patients and 12 control subjects.. Flow-mediated dilation was reduced in patients with Behcet's syndrome as compared with control subjects (0.7 +/- 0.9% vs. 5.7 +/- 0.9%, p = 0.001). In contrast, there were no significant differences in the brachial artery diameter (4.2 +/- 0.2 vs. 4.0 +/- 0.2 mm, p = 0.47) or NTG-induced dilation (19.7 +/- 1.9% vs. 19.7 +/- 1.2%, p = 0.98). In regression analysis, Behçet's syndrome was associated with impaired flow-mediated dilation independent of age, gender, brachial artery diameter, blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose. Vitamin C increased flow-mediated dilation in Behçet's syndrome (0.2 +/- 0.7% to 3.5 +/- 1.0%, p = 0.002), but not in control subjects (4.3 +/- 0.6% to 4.7 +/- 0.4%, p = 0.51). In both groups, NTG-induced dilation and brachial artery diameter were unchanged after vitamin C treatment.. Vascular endothelial function is impaired in Behcet's syndrome and can be rapidly improved by vitamin C treatment. Our results support a role for oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of Behçet's syndrome and provide a rationale for therapeutic studies aimed at reducing vascular complications in this disorder.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Behcet Syndrome; Endothelium, Vascular; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nitroglycerin; Oxidative Stress; Vasodilation

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Behcet Syndrome; Chorioretinitis; Dexamethasone; Eye Diseases; Female; Humans; Injections; Male; Nitrogen; Optic Neuritis; Prednisolone; Uric Acid; Vitamin B Complex

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibiotics, Antitubercular; Ascorbic Acid; Behcet Syndrome; Chloramphenicol; Chlortetracycline; Corrinoids; Dermatologic Agents; Desensitization, Immunologic; Diphenhydramine; Penicillins; Prednisolone; Rutin; Streptomycin; Vitamin B 12