Defective fibrinolysis in Behcet's syndrome: significance and possible mechanisms

Article Abstract:

Behcet's syndrome is a chronic disease characterized by ulcer formation in the mouth and genitals, joint pain, and inflammation of the iris, a membrane in the eye that controls the entry of light. The central nervous system, heart, and intestinal tract may also be affected. Behcet's syndrome usually occurs between 10 and 30 years of age and affects men more often than women. Patients with Behcet's syndrome may develop vascular thrombosis (blood clot formation) and have decreased fibrinolytic activity (inability to dissolve a clot). The reduced fibrinolytic activity may result from decreased levels of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), which is produced by the endothelium lining the blood vessels and dissolves blood clots. Alternatively, reduced fibrinolysis may result from the increased levels of t-PA inhibitor (t-PAI), a factor that prevents the action of t-PA. Fibrinolytic activity was studied in seven patients with Behcet's syndrome, 12 patients with mouth ulcers of unknown origin, and 10 normal subjects. Patients with Behcet's syndrome had decreased levels of t-PA and normal levels of t-PAI when compared with normal subjects. Three out of the seven patients with Behcet's syndrome showed good fibrinolytic responses. The patients with mouth ulcers were similar to normal subjects in all measurements. These findings suggest that the decreased fibrinolysis which accompanies Behcet's syndrome may be related to decreased t-PA production. However, abnormalities in fibrinolysis may be unrelated to development of thrombosis. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Behcet's disease, Behcet's syndrome, Fibrinolysis

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Distribution of cell adhesion molecules in skeletal muscle from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Article Abstract:

Cell adhesion molecules may play an important role in the movement of mononuclear cells to inflamed muscle tissue in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the connective tissue. Mononuclear cells are blood cells that contain only one nucleus. Researchers compared samples of muscle tissue from 14 patients with SLE to those from six patients with other disorders (control group). Seven of the samples from SLE patients had infiltrates of mononuclear cells. A higher concentration of vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) was found in the samples with infiltrates than in those without infiltrates or from the control group. VCAM-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule a (ICAM-1) were found on extravascular cells in the infiltrates. Both VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 are both cytokine inducible adhesion molecules.

Development and progression, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Cell adhesion, Myositis

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One patient, two unusual conditions and three basic lessons

Article Abstract:

A 54-year-old British woman who had been treated with immunosuppressive drugs for chronic vascular inflammation was flown home from Spain with an extremely low blood cell count. A bone marrow biopsy revealed a parasite common in the Mediterranean. Infection is almost always harmless in persons with normal immune systems, but severe reductions in blood cells can occur in persons with suppressed immune systems. This patient had previously had her knee joints surgically replaced for presumed arthritis, which resulted in her becoming wheelchair bound, because her doctor missed muscle weakness due to her blood vessel disease.

Causes of, Vasculitis, Parasitic diseases

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