Serum asymmetric diethyl argentine (ADMA)‎, nitric oxide (NO)‎ and homocystine (HCY)‎ levels in behest's disease as biomarkers of endothelial cell dysfunction

Abstract EN

Objectives : to measure the serum levels of asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA), nitric oxide (NO) and homocystine (Hcy) in patients with Behcet’s disease as markers of endothelial cell dysfunction and to explain their role (s) in the disease pathogenesis and activity.

Methodology : This study included 14 male patients with Behcet’s_s disease and 10 age and sex matched healthy volunteers.

Patients were divided into two groups : mucocutaneous and vasculitis groups.

CBC, deferential leucocytic counts, ESR, CRP were performed as a guide for disease activity.

ADMA, NO and homocystine, was measured in the serum of all studied groups by ELISA.

Duplex ultrasonographies of venous and arterial system were done for vasculitis group.

Results : There was significant increase in ADMA level in BD patients (0.918 ± 0.240 µmol / L) than control group (0.0.401 ± 0.070 µmol / L) with increase in vasculitis group (1.133 ± 0.223 µmol / L) than mucocutaneous group (0.756 ± 0.049 µmol / L).

The study reported significant decrease in NO level in BD patients (11.986 ± 1.815umol) than the control group (14.560 ± 1.897 µmol / L) with significant decrease in vasculitis group (10.333 than ± 0.647 µmol / L) than mucocutaneous group (13.225 ± 1.312 µmol / L).

There was also significant increase in Hcy level in BD patients (25.271 ± 4.980 µmol / L) than control group (10.020 ± 1.060 µmol / L) with significant increase in vasculitis group (30.533 ± 1.141 µmol / L) than mucocuteneous group (21.325 ± 1.896 µmol / L.

Conclusions : Increased ADMA with decrease NO and increase Hcy serum levels may be responsible for endothelial damage in BD and can be used as markers for endothelial cell dysfunction.