Serum mannose-binding lectin levels are decreased in Behcet's disease and associated with disease severity

Abstract

Objective. To investigate serum levels of mannose-binding lectin (MBL), a complement-like protein of collectin family, in patients with Behcet's disease (BD). Methods. MBL levels were measured in sera of 130 patients with 131), 64 patients with recurrent oral ulcerations (ROU), and 105 healthy controls (HC) with ELISA. Results. Patients with BD had significantly lower median serum MBL levels compared to HC (1857 vs 3136 ng/ml, p = 0.001). No significant difference was observed in median serum MBL levels between 131) and ROU (2309 ng/ml, p = 0.252). Low MBL levels (less than or equal to 500 ng/ml) were present in a higher proportion of BD patients compared to HC (29% vs 16%, p = 0.021). A severe disease course (total clinical severity score a 4) was more frequently observed in BD patients with very low serum MBL levels (less than or equal to 100 ng/ml) (19% vs 6%, p = 0.046). When serum MBL levels were analyzed separately according to gender, the frequency of vascular disease was higher in men with very low serum MBL levels (80% vs 42%, p = 0.042). Conclusions. MBL deficiency might contribute to the pathogenesis of BD and affect its clinical course.