Background Behçet's disease (BD) is a systemic vasculitis characterized by oral ulcer, genital ulcer, skin lesion and uveitis. Because there is no reliable biomarker, the evaluation of BD disease activity is dependent on the extent of clinical manifestation and usually assessed by questionnaires, such as Behcet's Disease Activity Score (BSAS) or Behcet's Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF).

Objectives This study was performed to investigate the association of serum beta 2-microglobulin level and clinical manifestation or disease activity in BD.

Methods The study population consisted of 63 patients with BD and 21 healthy controls. Patients with BD were assessed by disease duration, currently involved organ, BSAS, BDCAF, ESR and CRP.

Results Serum beta 2-microglobulin levels of patients with BD were found to be significantly higher than those in the healthy controls (median 1.67 mg/L and 1.44 mg/L, p=0.003). In further analysis in BD patients, it was significantly correlated with ESR (rho =0.289, p=0.025) and CRP (rho =0.364, p=0.004) but not correlated with BD activity represented by BSAS (rho = -0.039, p=0.761) and BDCAF (rho =0.011, p=0.929). Serum beta 2-microglobulin levels were significantly increased with age (rho =0.459, p<0.001) but did not have correlation with BD duration (rho =0.161, p=0.212). There was no difference in the serum beta 2-microglobulin levels according to the presence of oral ulcer, genital ulcer, skin lesion, uveitis and arthritis.

Conclusions Serum beta 2-microglobulin was elevated in patients with BD and correlated with ESR and CRP, but was not correlated with BD clinical manifestation or disease activity.

Disclosure of Interest None declared