Gamze Taş Aygar, Mine Büşra Bozkürk, Ramazan Burak Sivri, Gökberk Uyar, Hatice Ataş, Canan Topçuoğlu, Selda Pelin Kartal
Annals of Clinical and Analytical Medicine - 2026;17(1):75-78
Aim: To assess whether serum endocan-an index of endothelial activation-is elevated in biopsy-confirmed cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV), its correlations with CRP/ESR/NLR/SII, and its diagnostic performance by ROC analysis. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional case-control study, we enrolled 37 biopsy-confirmed LCV patients and 37 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. ELISA measured serum endocan. CRP, ESR, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) were recorded. Diagnostic performance was assessed by ROC analysis. A prespecified multivariable linear regression adjusted for comorbidities and demographics (CKD, CVD, diabetes, inflammatory diseases, thyroid disorders, age, and sex). Results: Serum endocan levels were higher in LCV than in controls (p = 0.027). Endocan did not correlate with CRP, ESR, NLR, or SII (all p > 0.05). After multivariable adjustment, vasculitis status remained independently associated with higher endocan (small/borderline effect; adjusted R² = 0.042), and a sensitivity backward stepwise model confirmed a significant association (b = 3299.22 pg/mL; 95% CI 93.56-6504.87; p = 0.044). ROC analysis showed moderate discrimination (AUC = 0.70); at a prespecified cut-off of > 1077 pg/mL, sensitivity was 49% and specificity 78%. Discussion: Serum endocan is elevated in LCV and appears to reflect localized endothelial activation rather than systemic inflammatory burden. Although its standalone diagnostic power is limited, endocan may serve as a complementary biomarker when interpreted alongside clinical and histopathological findings.
