الفهرس 
Behcet’s diseaseOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 138 |  |  |
| | | from | 138 | | |
Abstract
Behcet disease is a chronic recurrent multi-system inflammatory disease manifested by recurrent oral ulcers, genital ulcers, and uveitis. In addition to articular, cardiovascular, neurologic and gastrointestinal manifestations. The diagnosis of the disease still depends on clinical criteria due to lack of accepted pathognomonic tests. It occurs worldwide. It usually occurs between the second and fourth decades of life. The etiology and pathogenesis of BD is unknown. However, environmental and genetic factors are important agents in the development of the disease. GDF-15, a member of the TGF-ᴃ superfamily of cytokines, plays an important role in cell growth and differentiation, also is implicated in chronic inflammatory pathways by chemotactic and fibrogenic effects. BD is a neutrophil-mediated disease characterized by neutrophil hyperactivity. The relationship of macrophage activation with GDF-15 suggests that GDF-15 may be an autocrine regulator of macrophage activation which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of BD. Musculoskeletal Ultrasound is an imaging technique that has a fundamental role in the clinical evaluation of rheumatic disorders. It is considered a very useful tool for the diagnosis of arthritis, evaluating disease activity and monitoring of therapy. The aim of this study was to asses serum level of GDF-15 in patients with Behcet’s disease and its relationship with various clinical and disease activity parameters of the disease. This study was carried out on thirty patients with BD in addition to twenty apparently healthy volunteers matched in age and sex were servied as controls. The patients were selected form the inpatient and outpatient clinic of Physical Medicine, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation and Internal Medicine Departments.