SERUM CONCENTRATIONS OF VON-WILLEBRAND-FACTOR AND SOLUBLE THROMBOMODULIN INDICATE ALTERATION OF ENDOTHELIAL FUNCTION IN INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES

Serum concentrations of immunoreactive von Willebrand factor (VWF) and soluble thrombomodulin (TM), and vWF multimer patterns were measured to assess endothelial function in patients with inflammatory intestina l diseases. In Crohn's disease and acute infective diarrhea, vWF conce ntrations were significantly higher than in normal controls. In all pa tient groups, multimeric analysis of vWF and the concentration of seru m TM were not different from normal controls. The results indicate alt eration of endothelial function in inflammatory intestinal disorders. They may be compatible with the presence of localized vasculitis, but indicate that systemic endothelial destruction does not occur in infla mmatory bowel disease.