Serum il-6, il-8 and tnf-α in behçet’s disease : relation to disease activity and clinical manifestations

Abstract EN

Objectives : To evaluate IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α as serological markers for disease activity in Behçet’s Disease (BD) and their relation with different clinical manifestations.

Methodology : Thirty patients with BD and 28 healthy individuals were included in the study.

IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α were evaluated in their serum.

Patients were subjected to complete dermatological, locomotory, neurological and ophthalmologic examination.

The BD activity was based on the existence at least one clinical manifestation.

Behçet’s Disease Activity Index (BDAI) was also measured in all patients.

Results : According to the evaluation scale, 18 patients were considered active and 12 patients inactive.

All tested laboratory parameters were found to be significantly elevated in BD patients (active and inactive) compared to healthy controls.

However only IL-8 and TNF-α levels were significantly elevated in active BD compared with inactive disease.

Significant elevation of IL-8 levels was detected in patients with oral ulcers, eye lesions, vascular lesions and CNS involvement ; whereas TNF-α serum levels were significantly elevated in ocular lesions only.

IL-8 levels were positively correlated with BDAI scores.

Conclusions : Serum IL-8 and TNF-α levels are important markers of disease activity in Behçet’s disease.

The relation between clinical manifestations and IL-8 favors the hypothesis that IL-8 may play an important role in new therapy strategies of Behçet’s disease.