Serum nitric oxide, asymmetric dimethylarginine, and plasma homocysteine levels in active Behçet’s disease

Aim: Behçet’s disease is a relapsing vasculitis characterized by endothelial dysfunction. This study was conducted to determine the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and 2 related parameters, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and homocysteine levels, in relation to the pathogenesis of Behçet’s disease. Materials and methods: A total of 49 Behçet’s patients, comprising 26 patients with the active disease and 23 patients with the inactive disease, and a healthy control group of 24 individuals participated in this study. International Study Group Diagnostic Criteria were followed in the diagnosis of Behçet’s disease; patients who had at least 2 signs were considered as having the active disease. Results: Serum NO and plasma homocysteine levels were found to be significantly higher in patients with active Behçet’s disease compared to patients with inactive Behçet’s disease and healthy controls. In active and inactive Behçet’s patients, serum ADMA levels were significantly higher than those of healthy controls. No statistically significant difference was found between patients with inactive Behçet’s and healthy controls with respect to serum homocysteine levels. Conclusion: The increased serum levels of ADMA presumably cause endothelial dysfunction because of a deficiency in NO production, which also appears to be involved in the vasculitis of Behçet’s disease.