Journal of Applied Medical Sciences

Evaluation of albumin/globulin ratio as a diagnostic marker for relapsing ocular Behçet’s disease

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•                                                   Abstract

  Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio as a diagnostic marker for relapsing ocular Behçet’s disease. Methods: This study was conducted using retrospective design. Patients of ocular Behçet’s disease under infliximab infusion therapy were registered. The parameters for remission, i.e., total protein, albumin, serum protein fraction, serum amyloid A (SAA), C reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), were monitored. The inflammatory proteins; α1-antitripsine, α1 acid glycoprotein, retinol binding protein, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, and α2 macroglobulin were measured during the pre- and post- relapse phase in three patients. Results: Fourteen occurrences of relapse among 10 patients were confirmed during the study period. The A/G ratio decreased to 0.10 ± 0.11 (mean ± SD), the increase in the mean percentage of α1 and α2 globulin fractions was statistically significant, and analysis of three patient samples showed an increase in α1 acid glycoprotein (p = 0.04) and a decrease in retinol binding protein (p = 0.04). Comparison of the A/G ratio with other markers, ESR, SAA, and CRP, between the pre- and post- relapse phase showed that all four factors changed significantly.
  Conclusions: The A/G ratio appears to be a useful marker for relapsing ocular Behçet’s disease.