RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Immune dysregulation has been shown to be one of the major aspects of the yet unknown pathogenesis of Behçet's disease. Interleukin-8 (IL-8), a major chemokine with pivotal effects concerning leukocytes and endothelial cells, has been found to be elevated in patients with Behçet's disease. AIM: To evaluate the significance of elevated levels of IL-8 with respect to the activity of Behçet's disease. METHODS: Sixty-seven consecutive patients with Behçet's disease (37 males, 30 females; 32.5 +/- 9.3 years) were enrolled in our study. The number of active clinical manifestations at the time of serum sampling was recorded. The degree of association between disease activity and IL-8, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate was assessed. RESULTS: Serum levels of IL-8 increased as the number of clinically involved organs increased (P < 0.05). C-reactive protein and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate showed no correlation with disease activity. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms that the IL-8 level is a more sensitive marker of disease activity than the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. It may be assumed that IL-8 plays an important role in the pathophysiology of Behçet's disease.
Assuntos
Síndrome de Behçet/sangue , Biomarcadores/sangue , Interleucina-8/sangue , Adolescente , Adulto , Análise de Variância , Síndrome de Behçet/patologia , Sedimentação Sanguínea , Proteína C-Reativa/metabolismo , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Prurigo pigmentosa is a rare inflammatory dermatosis of unknown etiology characterized by recurrent, pruritic erythematous papules and gross reticulate hyperpigmentation. It is seen most commonly among young adult Japanese females. Only 20 cases have been described outside Japan. METHODS: We report two female, Turkish patients aged 20 and 26 years who had a pruritic rash with the characteristic clinical appearance and supportive histopathology of prurigo pigmentosa. RESULTS: They were successfully treated with minocycline and doxycycline. CONCLUSIONS: Prurigo pigmentosa is a relatively new clinical entity, and we believe that a more widespread knowledge of this disease will lessen its misdiagnosis. We find it noteworthy to point out that there may be a predisposition to prurigo pigmentosa amongst the Turkish and Sicilian populations.
