Vascular endothelial function and plasma homocysteine levels in Behcet's disease

The purpose of the present study was to test endothelial function and to determine if plasma homocysteine levels are associated with endothelial injury in patients with Behcet's disease (BD). Flow-mediated dilation in patients with BD was smaller than. that of control subjects (p = 0.001), and mean plasma homocysteine levels in patients with BD were significantly higher (p = 0.0001). On regression analysis, only mean plasma homocysteine concentration was independently related to flow-mediated dilation (F = 5.7; p = 0.001). (C) 2004 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.