Polymorphonuclear leukocyte myeloperoxidase levels in patients with Behçet's disease
A. Accardo-Palumbo, G. Triolo, M.C. Carbone, A. Ferrante, F. Ciccia, E. Giardina, G. Triolo
Cattedra di Allergologia e Immunologia Clinica, Istituto di Clinica Medica, University of Palermo
ABSTRACT
Myeloperoxidase was measured in the plasma and in the
supernatants of polymorphonuclear granulocyte cultures
from patients with Behçet's disease. High levels were found in
both plasma and supernatants from patients with active
disease. The addition of pentoxifylline to granulocyte
cultures determined a significant decrease of
myeloperoxidase levels in active patients only.
Hyperactive neutrophils are present during the course of
Behçet's disease and may be considered of importance in the
pathogenesis of the vascular lesions.
Key words
Polymorphonuclear leukocytes,
myeloperoxidase, Behçet's disease, pentoxifylline.
This work was supported in part by a grant from the Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica of Italy and a grant from the IPR, Catania, Italy.
Please address correspondence and reprint requests to:
Professor Giovanni Triolo, Cattedra di Allergologia e Immunologia
Clinica; Istituto di Clinica Medica, Piazza delle Cliniche no. 2,
90127 Palermo, Italy.
E-mail: triolog@tin.itoti
Clin Exp Rheumatol 2000; 18: 495-498.
© Copyright Clinical and Experimental
Rheumatology 2000.