Serum vitronectin levels in patients with Behçet's disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine serum vitronectin levels in Behçet patients with and without ocular involvement, and to evaluate the relationship between vitronectin concentrations and clinical manifestations of Behçet's disease (BD). METHODS: Sixty-five patients with BD and 21 control subjects were included. All patients were queried for the clinical manifestations of BD. Serum vitronectin concentrations were determined by using in vitro enzyme immunoassay kits. RESULTS: Serum vitronectin levels between the patients and the control subjects were not different. There was no statistically significant difference between vitronectin levels in Behçet patients with and without ocular involvement. No correlation was found between vitronectin concentrations and clinical manifestations. CONCLUSION: This is the first study evaluating vitronectin levels in Behçet patients. Further studies involving larger numbers of subjects would be useful to improve our understanding of the functions of vitronectin in BD.

A case of bilateral uveitis and optic disc swelling with Chiari I malformation.

We report a case of bilateral uveitis and optic disc swelling with Chiari I malformation. A 16-year-old girl was admitted to our clinic due to conjunctival hyperaemia and blurred vision in her right eye. Ophthalmologic and systemic examinations were performed. Visual acuity was 0.7 (OD) and 1.0 (OS). Bilateral optic disc swelling was observed. Fluorescein angiography demonstrated bilateral retinal vasculitis as well as optic disc hyperflourescence due to leakage. Laboratory examinations were within normal limits. Cranial magnetic resonance venography imaging revealed neither cranial mass nor cerebral venous thrombosis but a Chiari I malformation. The patient was started oral cetazolamid, topical and oral corticosteroids. After six months follow-up, bilateral optic disc swelling was resolved completely and visual acuity was 1.0 in both eyes. Optic disc swelling may be associated with intraocular inflammation; however, patients with bilateral optic disc swelling should be suspected of having an accompanying intracranial pathology.