The quantification and significance of mast cells in lesions of Behcet's disease

Abstract

Mast cells in the upper dermis and mucosal subepithelial layer of the following were counted in 30 consecutive light microscopy oil-immersion fields: 34 skin and oral specimens from lesions in patients with active Behcet''s disease, 8 specimens of apparently uninvolved skin of the same patients, and 102 lesions of a variety of other skin diseases. The result revealed a significant increase in the number of mast cells in Behcet''s lesions. The histamine content of 5 reactive lesions showed a 2-fold increase compared with that in apparently uninvolved skin of patients with active Behcet''s disease. Mechanisms similar to cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity may be involved in the production of Behcet''s lesions.