Selenium and Behçet's disease

Abstract

Behçet's disease is an inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by recurrent oral and genital aphthous ulcers, ocular inflammation, and skin lesions of erythema nodosum and acneiform eruptions. Selenium (Se) affects all components of the immune system, i.e., the development and expression of nonspecific, humoral, and cell-mediated responses. In general, a deficiency in Se appears to result in immunosuppression, whereas supplementation with low doses of Se appears to result in augmentation and/or restoration of immunologic functions. In this study, the distribution of Se and IgG, IgM in serum were compared in samples from healthy adult control and Behçet's disease patients. The serum Se levels were measured by AA-30-40 Varian Spectra, and immunoglobulins were measured by immunodiffusion technique. The mean (SD) serum Se level of 54.24 +/- 8.06 ng/mL among Behçet's disease subjects was significantly different (P less than 0.01) from that in the control subjects (90.01 +/- 9.94 ng/mL). We also measured IgG and IgM as 10.01 +/- 2.74 mg/mL and 1.26 +/- 0.29 mg/mL, respectively for patients, and 15.08 +/- 4.73 mg/mL and 1.58 +/- 0.43 mg/mL for controls. The mean values of IgG and IgM for patients were significantly (P less than 0.05) different from the values of controls. It seems, therefore, that a deficiency in selenium impedes the humoral immune response.

Oxidant/antioxidant status in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis

“…This finding may be used to clarify the cause and pathogenesis of the disease, and possibly to identify better treatment or preventive options than those currently available. In the light of this evaluation, we think that supplementation with antioxidants such as selenium and ascorbic acid [26][27][28] may strengthen blood antioxidant defence and provide increased beneficial therapeutic effectiveness in RAS.…”

Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defenses in Plasma of Patients with Behcet's Disease.

“…Since inflammation plays a central part in the expression of BD, these Se effects are of interest. Plasma Se levels were found to be lower in BD patients (Delilbasi et al 1991;) and suggested that a deficiency in Se impedes the humoral immune response; and it may play an important role in the etiology or prognosis of some inflammatory conditions, and of signs and symptoms of pathological disorders, such as BD (Delilbasi et al 1991). …”

Plasma Lipoprotein(a) and Its Relationship with Disease Activity in Patients with Behçet’s Disease

“…Also, Beliefs disease is most common in the east part of the Mediterranean. The prevalence of the disease is reported to be 8/10000 in Turkey (22). It is well known that high plasma Lp(a) level is associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease because of its thrombogenic and atherogenic effects.…”