Haemorheological alterations in Behçet's disease are not related to a tendency for venous thrombosis.
BACKGROUND
Behçet's disease is associated with an increased risk of thrombosis, although the prothrombotic mechanisms are unclear. Alterations in blood rheology, particularly increased erythrocyte aggregation, might play a role in the development of such thrombotic events.


METHODS
We measured plasma lipids, fibrinogen, haematocrit, erythrocite aggregation, erythrocyte deformability, blood viscosity, plasma viscosity and erythrocyte indexes in patients with a nonactive disease at sampling, and in a well-matched control group. The patient group comprised 42 patients with BD (21 male, 21 female aged 43+/-12 years) and the control group comprised 46 healthy volunteers (23 male, 23 female aged 45+/-13 years). Twelve of the 42 patients with BD had a previous documented history of deep vein thrombosis at least 6 months before entering the study, and the other 30 did not.


RESULTS
Compared with controls, patients showed statistically higher fibrinogen concentrations (P=0.001), plasma viscosity (P=0.002), blood viscosity (P=0.006) and erythrocyte aggregation, both at stasis (P=0.001) and at a low shear rate (P=0.002): the other rheological parameters were not statistically significant. No differences were observed in the rheological parameters when patients with and without previous thrombotic episodes were compared.


CONCLUSIONS
Although patients with BD show a moderate hyperviscosity syndrome, possibly related to chronic inflammation, this does not seem to play a role in the development of thrombotic events.
Ricart
Jose Ma
JM
Hemorheology and Thrombosis Unit, Department of Clinical Pathology, La Fe University Hospital, Valencia, Spain.
Vaya
Amparo
A
Todolí
José
J
Calvo
Javier
J
Contreras
M Teresa
MT
España
Francisco
F
Aznar
Justo
J
Corella
Dolores
D
D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D001809:Blood Viscosity; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006400:Hematocrit; D018056:Hemorheology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology
D005340:Fibrinogen