Acta Med. 2018, 61: 86-92

https://doi.org/10.14712/18059694.2018.123

Soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-Like Weak Inducer of Apoptosis (Tweak) Independently Predicts Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Behcet’s Disease

Abdullah Iclia, Medine Cumhur Cureb, Erkan Curec, Sevket Arsland, Mehmet Unale, Davut Sakizf, Miyase Ozucang, Aysun Tokerh, Kultigin Turkmeni, Adem Kucukj

aDepartment of Cardiology, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
bDepartment of Biochemistry, Istanbul Laboratory, Istanbul, Turkey
cDepartment of Internal Medicine, Camlica Erdem Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
dDivision of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
eDepartment of Dermatology, Konya Numune Hospital, Konya, Turkey
fDivision of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yıldırım Beyazıt Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
gDepartment of Internal Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
hDepartment of Biochemistry, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
iDivision of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
jDivision of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Malatya State Hospital, Malatya, Turkey

Received May 25, 2018
Accepted September 25, 2018

Background: Vasculopathy is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in Behcet’s Disease (BD). Subclinical atherosclerosis can even be detected in the early stage of BD. Soluble tumor necrosis factor-like (TNF) weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is known as a good marker of the inflammation in vascular tree. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT) and serum TWEAK levels in patients with BD. Materials and Methods: In line with International BD Study Group criteria, 48 BD, and 30 controls were included in our study. Disease activity was evaluated according to BD current activity form (BDCAF). C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), lipid parameters, serum TWEAK levels, and cIMT were measured. Results: Disease activity score of BD patients was found as 2 (range 0–7). cIMT, serum TWEAK, CRP and ESR levels of BD patients were significantly higher comparing to cIMT (0.62 ± 0.13 mm vs. 0.43 ± 0.09 mm, p < 0.001), serum TWEAK (667.5 ± 130.6 vs. 603.4 ± 89.6 pg/ml, p = 0.015), CRP (3.9 ± 4.3 vs. 1.4 ± 1.0 mg/dl, p < 0.001) and ESR (10.2 ± 10.0 vs. 5.6 ± 3.7 mm/h, p = 0.005) levels of the control group. There was a positive correlation between serum TWEAK level and disease activity (r = 0.251, p = 0.030) and cIMT (r = 0.463, p < 0.001). Our study also revealed an independent correlation between cIMT and serum TWEAK levels (beta = 0.354, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Increased serum TWEAK levels can play a part in the development of atherosclerotic heart disease in BD. Due to their liability to atherosclerosis, patients with BD must followed closely.

References

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