INCREASE OF ACTIVATED FACTOR VIIA AND HEMOSTATIC MOLECULAR MARKERS INJUVENILE CHRONIC ARTHRITIS

ssssActivated factor VIIa (FVIIa), von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF: Ag), D-dimer and thombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) were measured to monitor coagulation status in patients with juvenile chronic arthri tis (JCA). Subjects included 14 patients with systemic JCA, 16 with pa uciarticular JCA and 16 with polyarticular JCA without disseminated in travascular coagulopathy, thrombosis or liver dysfunction. All types o f JCA showed an increase of FVIIa, D-dimer and TAT, indicating enhance d activation of coagulation. In systemic JCA only there was also chara cteristically an elevation of vWF:Ag. We conclude that all types of JC A constitute a state of subclinical hypercoagulopathy caused by tissue damage and that additionally systemic JCA involves a prothrombotic st ate associated with or precipitated by vasculitis.