Autoantibodies against complement C1q in patients with Behcet's disease: association with vascular involvement. Issue 2 (March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bassyouni, Iman H.; Gamal, Sherif; Talaat, Roba M.; Siam, Ibrahem
• Is Part Of: Modern rheumatology. Volume 24:Issue 2(2014)
• Page Start: 316
• Page End: 320
• Publication Date: 2014-03
• Subjects: Rheumatology -- Periodicals; 616.723005
• DOI: 10.3109/14397595.2013.854071
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1439-7595

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Aim.</italic> The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of anti-C1q antibodies and their possible association with clinical presentation in Behcet's disease (BD) patients with special emphasis for patients with vascular involvement.</p> <p> <italic>Methods.</italic> Plasma anti-C1q Abs levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 51 BD patients and 25 age- and gender-matched healthy controls.</p> <p> <italic>Results.</italic> We found elevated concentrations of anti-C1q more frequently in patients with BD (18 %) than in healthy controls (8 %). The highest prevalence was found in patients with vascular BD (42 %) which was significantly higher than patients without vascular BD and healthy controls (<italic>p</italic> = 0.025). Furthermore, patients with vascular BD had the highest mean anti-C1q levels when compared to BD patients without vascular involvement or healthy control subjects (<italic>p</italic> = 0.015). We did not find significant differences in the prevalence of any other organ involvement between BD patients with elevated vs. normal anti-C1q ab levels. Anti-C1q ab levels positively correlated with ESR (<italic>r</italic> = 0.383, <italic>p</italic> = 0.006) and negatively with C4 (<italic>r</italic> = −0.304, <italic>p</italic> = 0<bold>.030</bold>).</p> <p> <italic>Conclusion.</italic> In conclusion, we found an increased prevalence of anti-C1q autoantibodies in BD patients with vascular involvement. Further large scale longitudinal studies are required to assess and clarify the significance and the pathogenic role of anti-C1q antibodies in BD and other autoimmune diseases in which vasculitis is a component.</p> </abstract>