Aqueous humor IL-8, IL-10, and VEGF levels in Fuchs' uveitis syndrome and Behçet's uveitis.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the levels of interleukin (IL)-8, IL-10, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the aqueous humor (AqH) of patients with Behçet's uveitis (BU) and Fuchs' uveitis syndrome (FUS) during an inactive period and compared these levels with those in the AqH of noninflammatory healthy control subjects. METHODS: This prospective and case-control study included 33 patients (16 patients with BU and 17 patients with FUS) and 35 control subjects. IL-8, IL-10, and VEGF levels in the AqH were quantified by performing sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the cytokine levels in the different groups, and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: IL-8 levels were significantly higher in the AqH of patients with BU and FUS than in the AqH of control subjects (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). IL-10 levels were significantly lower in the AqH of patients with BU than in the AqH of patients with FUS and of control subjects (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Although VEGF levels were higher in the AqH of patients with FUS than in the AqH of patients with BU and of control subjects, the difference was significant only between patients with FUS and control subjects (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We observed a significant decrease in IL-10 levels in the AqH of patients with BU and a significant increase in VEGF levels in the AqH of patients with FUS compared to controls. IL-8 and VEGF levels showed no significant difference among uveitis patients.

Vitamin D and Its Relevance in the Etiopathogenesis of Oral Cavity Diseases.

Vitamin D belongs to a group of fat-soluble secosteroids which assume many roles in the human organism. In humans the most important forms are vitamin D3 and vitamin D2. Their primary function is the regulation of the calcium and phosphorus balance, which promote the growth of healthy bony tissue. Studies over the past few years have revealed a much wider role of vitamin D involving the aging processes, carcinogenesis, the carbohydrate balance as well as the effects on the course of various infections. In this paper we discuss the basic functions of vitamin D in the human body and the mechanisms of its activity and we summarize recent reports on the impact of vitamin D on the oral cavity with a special emphasis on autoimmunologic diseases, including: recurrent aphthous stomatitis, Behçet syndrome and Sjögren syndrome.

Serum levels of soluble P-selectin are increased and associated with disease activity in patients with Behçet's syndrome.

Behçet's syndrome (BS) is a relapsing, chronic, inflammatory disease characterized by endothelial dysfunction, atherothromboembogenesis, and leukocytoclastic vasculitis with complex immunologic molecular interactions. Generalized derangements of the lymphocyte and neutrophil populations, activated monocytes, and increased PMNLs motility with upregulated cell surface molecules such as ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin, which are found on the endothelial cells, leukocytes, and platelets, have all been demonstrated during the course of BS. Our aim is to investigate the association of serum concentrations of soluble P-selectin in patients with BS, and to evaluate whether disease activity has an effect on their blood levels. This multicenter study included 31 patients with BS (15 men and 16 women) and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy control volunteers (11 men and nine women). Neutrophil count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and acute-phase reactants as well as soluble P-selectin levels were determined. The mean age and sex distributions were similar (P > .05) between BS patients (35 years) and control volunteers (36 years). Serum levels of soluble P-selectin in patients with BS (399 +/- 72 ng/mL) were significantly (P < .001) higher when compared with control subjects (164 +/- 40 ng/mL). In addition, active BS patients (453 +/- 37 ng/mL) had significantly (P < .001) elevated levels of soluble P-selectin than those in inactive period (341 +/- 52 ng/mL). This study clearly demonstrated that serum soluble P-selectin levels are increased in BS patients when compared with control subjects, suggesting a modulator role for soluble P-selectin during the course of platelet activation and therefore, atherothrombogenesis formation in BS, especially in active disease.

IgA nephropathy and Reiter's syndrome. Report of two cases and review of the literature.

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy is the commonest type of primary glomerulonephritis worldwide. It has previously been reported in association with the seronegative spondyloarthropathies (ankylosing spondylitis, Behcet's syndrome, psoriatic arthritis, Reiter's syndrome and the postenteritic arthritides). Since this condition was first described in 1968, 5 previous case reports of biopsy-proven IgA nephropathy associated with Reiter's syndrome have been published in the English-language literature. Here we report 2 more such cases, along with a review of the literature describing the association of IgA nephropathy and a number of other immune-complex-mediated glomerulonephritides with the seronegative spondyloarthropathies.

Thrombo-embolic and vascular complications in vasculitis syndromes.

The vasculitides are relatively rare diseases characterized by inflammation and necrosis of vessel walls and, hence, often complicated by vascular and thromboembolic manifestations. The causes and pathogenesis of most vasculitides are only partially known. However, in many there are strong implications of both immune-complex and cell-mediated pathogenetic mechanisms. Tissue ischaemia, thrombosis as well as mediators and end-products of vascular endothelial inflammation are thought to cause most of the vasculitic manifestations. Thrombo-embolic and cardiovascular manifestations and complications are most commonly found in the vasculitides with necrotizing vascular inflammation, i.e. Behçet's disease, Buerger's disease, Kawasaki's syndrome, polyarteritis nodosa and vasculitis of rheumatoid arteritis. The granulomatous vasculitides are less frequently complicated by thrombo-embolic manifestations. Vasculitis may also be an iatrogenic complication of a therapeutic intervention, such as an IC-mediated hypersensitivity vasculitis after streptokinase treatment or an anti-endothelial cell antibody-associated coronary vasculitis after heart transplantation.

Chronic granulomatous disease presenting as an oculomucocutaneous syndrome mimicking Behçet's syndrome.

A female patient who presented for the first time at the age of 19 with oculomucocutaneous syndrome was found to have an absolute deficiency of neutrophil peroxide production. Neutrophil peroxide production as measured by chemiluminescence was zero on stimulation with opsonized zymosan. Direct membrane stimulation with FMLP and calcium ionophore also failed to elicit peroxide production. The diagnosis of chronic granulomatous disease should be considered in young patients with oculomucocutaneous syndrome.