title: Platelet factor 4 and beta-thromboglobulin in inflammatory bowel disease and giant cell arteritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As platelet factors are important in the inflammatory response, we examined the course of platelet factor 4 and beta-thromboglobulin in relation to disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease and in giant cell arteritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective study, the platelet count, platelet factor 4 and beta-thromboglobulin were measured in 20 patients with Crohn's disease, 18 with ulcerative colitis and 19 with giant cell arteritis, during active and inactive disease, as well as in 51 controls without inflammation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Platelet counts were significantly higher in active vs. inactive Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and giant cell arteritis. Levels of platelet factor 4 and beta-thromboglobulin were significantly higher in active inflammatory bowel disease and giant cell arteritis, as well as in inactive inflammatory bowel disease and giant cell arteritis, than in the non-inflammatory controls. A positive correlation was found between the Crohn's disease activity index and the platelet count, platelet factor 4 and beta-thromboglobulin. Also, a positive correlation was found between the ulcerative colitis activity index and beta-thromboglobulin. However, even after 12 months of follow-up, in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis the mean levels of platelet factor 4 and beta-thromboglobulin were significantly higher than the levels of the controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Platelet factors were correlated with inflammatory bowel disease activity. Levels of platelet factor 4 and beta-thromboglobulin, however, were markedly raised for a long time in clinically inactive inflammatory bowel disease, which might point to a pre-thrombotic state of disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital, Maastricht; the Netherlands. tvr@sint.azm.nl
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Vrij
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rijken
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Van Wersch
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Stockbrügger
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010976:Platelet Count; D010978:Platelet Factor 4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin; D010978:Platelet Factor 4; D002097:C-Reactive Protein