Relationship between serum IL-23/IL-17 levels in individuals with Behcets disease and other clinical and joints related findings in individuals with Behcet?s disease

ABSTRACT Behcet?s disease is a protracted, recurring and systemic vasculitis. It can be found primarily in skin and mucous membranes, eyes, joints and blood veins; however; it can be found in a number of other organs such as and so forth. Etiology and pathogenesis of Behcet?s disease have not been fully elucidated yet. Besides familial predisposition being a cause, it is commonly believed that an infectious agent initiates the disease. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between IL-23/ IL-17 common pathway, which is known to play a role in rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmue and autoinflammatory diseases; and findings of Behcet?s disease related to joints and other clinical findings. This research was carried out on 36 individuals with Behcet?s disease (patient group) and a control group of 36 healthy individuals, who attended Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, as well as, Department of Dermatology and Venereal Diseases polyclinics between June 22, 2012- February 22, 2013. Diagnostics of BH was done according to the diagnostics criteria of International Working Group. IL -17, IL-23, C - reactive protein and Erythrocyte Sedimentation rates were measured in the patient group and the control group. In the analysis of variables that provide Parametric test assumptions, T test was adopted for the independent samples so that we could examine the difference between the two groups. As for the variables that do not provide parametric test assumptions, one of the non-parametric tests, Mann- Whitney U, was adopted so that the difference between the two independent groups could be examined. Compared with the control group, IL-17, IL-23, C-reactive protein levels and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate was statistically found to be significantly higher in the patient group. On the other hand, there was no significant statistical difference was found when IL-17, IL-23, C-reactive protein levels and Erythrocyte Sedimentation rates of the active and inactive individuals within the patient group were compared to one another. Findings of this research: That cytokines such as IL-17 and IL-23 play a role in the pathogenesis of Behcet?s disease has been once again confirmed. The effect of IL-17 / IL-23 common pathway in Behcet?s diesease has been confirmed. These findings need to be strengthened by more comprehensive studies.