Ilknur Balta1, Sevket Balta2, Ozgul Mustu Koryurek3, Sait Demirkol4, Dimitri P Mikhailidis5, Turgay Celik4, Mustafa Cakar6, Ugur Kucuk4, Meral Eksioglu3, Yasemin Gulcan Kurt7. 1. Department of Dermatology, Kecioren Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. 2. Department of Cardiology, Gulhane Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: drsevketb@gmail.com. 3. Department of Dermatology, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. 4. Department of Cardiology, Gulhane Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. 5. Department of Clinical Chemistry, University College London Medical School, London, United Kingdom. 6. Department of Internal Medicine, Gulhane Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. 7. Department of Clinical Chemistry, Gulhane Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
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.
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.
Authors: Paul Bălănescu; Anca Lădaru; Eugenia Bălănescu; Theodor Voiosu; Cristian Băicuş; Gheorghe Andrei Dan Journal: J Clin Lab Anal Date: 2015-09-01 Impact factor: 2.352