Serum paraoxonase activity is decreased in the active stage of Behcet's disease

Aims: To evaluate paraoxonase1 (PON1) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, one of the end products of lipid peroxidation induced by reactive oxygen species in patients with Behcet's disease (BD) in the active stage. Methods: Serum MDA levels and PON1 levels were measured spectrophotometrically in 16 patients with BD in the active stage of the disease and in 15 healthy subjects who constituted the control group. Results: In the BD group, median ( range) serum PON1 and MDA levels were 149.64 U/l ( 88.02 - 281.68) and 1.21 nmol/ml ( 0.90 - 3.42), respectively. In the control group, median ( range) serum PON1 and MDA levels were 206.86 U/l ( 114.43 - 422.52) and 0.72 nmol/ml (0.50-1.12), respectively. There was a statistically significant decrease in serum PON1 levels ( p = 0.02) and an increase in serum MDA levels ( p< 0.001) in patients with BD in the active stage when compared to controls. Conclusion: Endothelial damage and increased polymorph nuclear leucocyte activity in the active stage of BD could result in a pro-oxidation environment which, in turn, results in decreased antioxidant PON activity and increased lipid peroxidation as evidenced by increased MDA levels.