Serum leptin concentration is increased in patients with Behcet s syndrome and is correlated with disease activity

Abstract

Background Behc¸et’s syndrome is a systemic, relapsing immuno-inflammatory disease with a generalized vasculitis of the microvasculature endothelial dysfunction. Leptin, a recently discovered neuroendocrine hormone, is a metabolic peptide that appears to be involved. Serum proinflammatory cytokines upregulate leptin levels and leptin itself directly induces nitric oxide production from endothelial cells with its specific receptors. Objectives To detect changes of serum leptin concentrations in patients with Behc¸et’s syndrome compared with age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We also investigated whether disease activity or the duration of Behc¸et’s syndrome correlates with leptin concentration. Methods Thirty-five consecutive patients with Behc¸et’s syndrome (41Æ2±8Æ4 years, 16 male, 19 female) and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects (40Æ4 ± 10Æ91 years, nine male, 11 female) were included in this study. The body mass index (BMI) [weight (kg) height)1 (m2 )] was calculated for subjects at study enrolment. We measured serum leptin with a leptin enzyme immunoassay kit, and acute-phase reactants, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate, a1-antitrypsin, a2-macroglobulin and neutrophil count. The Mann–Whitney U-test was used for statistical analysis and P < 0Æ05 was considered significant. Values were expressed as mean ± SD. Results The gender ratio, age and BMI were not substantially different among Behc¸et’s patients and controls. The mean serum leptin concentrations in patients with Behc¸et’s syndrome (16Æ8±7Æ49 ng mL)1 ) were significantly (P < 0Æ001) higher than in healthy control volunteers (7Æ5±2Æ77 ng mL)1 ). Active Behc¸et’s patients had significantly (P ¼ 0Æ001) higher leptin concentrations (20Æ5±7Æ99 ng mL)1 ) when compared with patients in inactive periods (12Æ8 ± 4Æ43 ng mL)1 ). In addition, patients with longer disease duration (mean, 20Æ1±5Æ15 years) had also significantly (P ¼ 0Æ013) higher leptin concentrations (20Æ2±8Æ52 ng mL)1 ) than those with shorter disease duration (13Æ4±4Æ52 ng mL)1 ) (mean, 7Æ4±3Æ29 years). All acute-phase reaction parameters were found to be significantly (for each, P < 0Æ01) increased in active disease. Conclusions Leptin may have a role in modulating endothelial function and may be involved in mechanisms for vessel endothelium repair, during an exacerbation as well as in chronic disease.