Clinical significance of CCN2/connective tissue growth factor in Behcet's disease patients

IH Bassyouni, WHS Mohammed… - … journal of rheumatic …, 2019 - Wiley Online Library
IH Bassyouni, WHS Mohammed, FM Taha, RM El Refai
International journal of rheumatic diseases, 2019Wiley Online Library
Aim Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic autoimmune vasculitic disorder of unclear
pathogenesis. CCN2/CTGF (connective tissue growth factor) is one of the CCN family
members which carry out pro‐angiogenic biological functions and play an important role in
inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The aim of the present study was to assess CCN2
plasma concentrations in BD patients and to analyze their association with clinical features
of the disease, activity and laboratory parameters. Methods We included 87 BD patients and …
Aim
Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic autoimmune vasculitic disorder of unclear pathogenesis. CCN2/CTGF (connective tissue growth factor) is one of the CCN family members which carry out pro‐angiogenic biological functions and play an important role in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The aim of the present study was to assess CCN2 plasma concentrations in BD patients and to analyze their association with clinical features of the disease, activity and laboratory parameters.
Methods
We included 87 BD patients and 60 healthy control subjects matched for age and gender. Demographic, clinical, disease activity and severity data were recorded. Plasma CCN2 concentrations were measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.
Results
The plasma concentrations of CCN2 in BD patients were significantly elevated compared to healthy controls. The mean plasma CCN2 levels in patients with major organ involvement were significantly higher than those without. Patients who received steroids or cyclophosphamide showed a significant reduction in CCN2 levels. This was confirmed by the results of multivariate analysis. Patients with active ocular disease had a significant increase in CCN2 compared to the inactive group. On the other hand, CCN2 levels were not significantly correlated with overall disease activity and severity scores.
Conclusion
Behçet's disease patients showed a significant increase of CCN2 levels, especially in the group of patients with major organ involvement. A significant reduction of these levels was found in patients who received steroids or cyclophosphamide. Larger studies with further investigations of the precise role of CCN2 in BD pathogenesis might lead to novel therapies for the clinical management of this disease.
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