Background: Selenium is known as an antioxidant and immunomodulator trace element. Recently, the role of selenium deficiency in Behcet disease is discussed. This study performed to evaluate the correlation between serum selenium level and Behcet disease.

Materials and Methods: This case control study was performed on 46 healthy and 46 patients matched for age and ethnicity at Behcet clinic of Shariati hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Serum selenium was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry and compared with the average of serum selenium levels in both case and control groups and analyzed by T-test.

Results: Serum selenium level (mean ± SD) in patients (66.4 ± 15.38) was significantly (p<0.0005) lower than healthy (86.87 ± 17.18) group. Considering Global Physician Assessment, there was no significant difference between active (66.57 ± 15.21) and non-active (65.83 ± 14.75) patients, but a significant increase in selenium level was seen in patients with ocular involvement (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Serum selenium level in Behcet patients was lower than healthy control group and in ocular involved patients was higher than non-active patients. According to our results selenium may be a predicting factor for exacerbation or activation of disease and we recommend further studies to evaluate the precise relationship between selenium and Behcet.