Increased plasma granulocyte elastase levels in Behçet's disease
Tsutsui, K.; Hasegawa, M.; Takata, M.; Takehara, K.
Journal of Rheumatology 25(2): 326-328
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0315-162X PMID: 9489828 Document Number: 492760
Objective: To assess the role of granulocyte elastase in the development of thromboembolic vasculopathy in patients with Behcet's disease. Methods: Plasma granulocyte elastase-alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (E-PI) complex levels were measured by ELISA in 11 healthy subjects and 19 patients with Behcet's disease (BD). Eight of 19 patients showed deep vein thrombosis on 99mtechnetium-macro-agglutinate albumin venography. Hemostatic variables were measured at the same time. Results: The mean plasma E-PI complex level was significantly higher in the 8 patients with than in the 11 patients without deep vein thrombosis (242 +- 73 vs 165 +- 97 ng/ml; p = 0.033). The mean plasma E-PI complex level in the 11 patients without deep vein thrombosis was significantly higher than in controls (165 +- 97 vs 96 +- 40 ng/ml; p = 0.038). Plasma E-PI complex levels correlated with the serum plasmin-alpha2-plasmin inhibitor complex levels (r = 0.621, p = 0.0084). Conclusion: Plasma E-PI complex levels appear to be a useful marker of thromboembolic vasculopathy in BD.