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

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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.