Calprotectin and Ischemia Modified Albumin Serum to Measure Disease Activity in Behçet's Disease

Primary outcomes

1. BD activity was evaluated using BD Current Activity Form (BDCAF).

   Time frame: 3 years

   BD activity was assessed with BDCAF which assesse clinical characteristics present during the previous one month before evaluation. BDCAF include the following components: headaches; mouth ulcers; erythema; genital ulcers; arthritis; arthralgia; nausea/emesis/pain in abdomen; rectal bleeding; diarrhea; and new ocular, vascular, and nervous symptoms. Each component takes a score of (0) if absent or (1) if present [30]. The total BDCAF score was calculated by adding up the positive components (maximum score = 12). A BDCAF patient index score ≥2 was considered as active BD, while a score less than 2 was considered as inactive BD

2. Serum calprotectin concentrations

   Time frame: 3 years

   Blood samples were withdrawn from all participants 12 h after fasting. Samples underwent centrifugation at 4000 rpm for ten minutes. The sera were collected and kept at -80°C till analysis.

   Serum calprotectin concentrations were quantified utilizing a commercial calprotectin ELISA kit (Hycult Biotech Inc, US) based on manufacturer's instructions. Levels of high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) and albumin were detected using the immunoturbidimetric technique. Unit of measurment (μg/ml )

3. Ischaemia Modified Albumin (IMA) serum concentrations

   Time frame: 3 years

   IMA was quantified based on albumin cobalt binding colorimetric assay according to Bar-Or and colleagues and the levels were expressed in absorbance units (ABSU). To obtain corrected IMA values, the equation (individual albumin level/median albumin level of population) × IMA ABSU value was applied. Unit of measurment ( kU/L)