Increased erythrocyte aggregation as an indicator for an aggressive clinical course in Behcet's disease: a prospective study

Objective-Changes in blood rheology, especially increased erythrocyte aggre gation (EA) might play an important part in the development of arterial and venous thrombotic lesions. A prospective study was designed to evaluate EA in patients with Behcet's disease (BD) and to see if this parameter is pre dictive for the future development of vascular complications, such as deep vein thrombosis of various organ systems and uveitis. Methods-EA was measured by a photometric Myrenne aggregometer in 38 patient s with ED at the time of initial diagnosis and in 40 age and sex matched he althy controls (HC). Results-During a median follow up period of 13.5 months, 13 patients develo ped vascular-ocular complications (eight deep vein thrombosis, nine uveitis , and four both deep vein thrombosis and uveitis). Patients were further di vided into two groups: ED-a with mucocutaneous symptoms and arthritis only; BD-b with associated vascular-ocular complications. EA values at high shea r rate (M) and at low shear rate (M1) were compared among the groups. Conclusion-PA values at M and Mi were significantly higher in BD-b than ED- a and HC (p<0.001). These results suggest that determination of EA rates mi ght be useful to identify subgroups who are Likely candidates for developin g vascular-ocular complications in ED and management of factors known to af fect blood rheology might be beneficial.