Characterisation of circulating endothelial microparticles in Behçet's disease: new markers of chronic endothelial damage?

OBJECTIVES

Endothelial cell-derived microparticles (EMPs) are directly indicative of endothelial cell activation or apoptosis, and may also reflect endothelial inflammation, increased coagulation, and vascular tone. The aim of this study is to investigate whether EMPs would be able to evaluate system involvement and be a new indicators of disease activity in Behçet's disease (BD).

METHODS

Thirty-nine consecutive BD patients (who fulfilled the modified 1990 International Study Group on Behçet's disease or the 2006 International Criteria for Behçet's Disease) and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled. The plasma levels of EMPs were measured by flow cytometry utilising specific labels for endothelial MPs (CD31+ and CD42b-).

RESULTS

The levels of circulating EMPs (CD31+ and CD42b-) were significantly elevated in the case group compared with the healthy control group (p =0.000). Moreover, BD patients plasma EMPs were positively correlated with BD current activity form (r=0.802, p =0.000). Vascular and gastrointestinal involvement in BD patients were significantly increased (p=0.004 and p=0.011, respectively) with respect to patients without vascular and gastrointestinal EMPs.

CONCLUSIONS

Levels of circulating EMPs are elevated in BD patients and correlate with the disease activity; the elevated EMPs may be a potential indicator to predict disease activity of BD. The plasma level of EMPs was increased, which indicated the increased risk of vascular and digestive tract involvement in BD.