Coagulation and fibrinolysis in inflammatory bowel disease and in giant cell arteritis.
BACKGROUND
In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), gut microvascular thrombosis as well as thromboembolic complications have repeatedly been observed. We examined the long-term course of markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis in relation to clinical disease activity.


METHODS
In a prospective study, prothrombin fragment 1 and 2 (F1.2), thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), antithrombin, D-dimer, plasmin-alpha(2)-antiplasmin complex (PAP) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were measured in 20 patients with Crohn's disease (CD), 18 with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 19 with giant cell arteritis during active and inactive disease, as well as in 51 controls without inflammation.


RESULTS
Levels of F1.2, TAT, D-dimer, PAP and PAI-1 were significantly higher in active versus inactive CD and UC. However, even after 12 months of follow-up, in CD and UC the mean levels of F1.2, D-dimer and PAP were significantly higher than the levels of the controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Levels of F1.2, D-dimer and PAP were markedly raised for a long time in clinically inactive IBD, underlining a chronic state of hypercoagulation and enhanced fibrinolysis.
Vrij
Anton A
AA
Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital, Maastricht, The Netherlands. a.vrij@twenteborg.nl
Rijken
Joop
J
van Wersch
Jan W J
JW
Stockbrügger
Reinhold W
RW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000097:blood; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019851:Thrombophilia
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein