Platelet factor 4 and beta-thromboglobulin in inflammatory bowel disease and giant cell arteritis

Background As platelet factors are important in the inflammatory response, we examined the course of platelet factor 4 and beta-thromboglobulin in rel ation to disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease and in giant cell a rteritis. Patients and methods In a prospective study, the platelet count, platelet f actor 4 and beta-thromboglobulin were measured in 20 patients with Crohn's disease, 18 with ulcerative colitis and 19 with giant cell arteritis, durin g active and inactive disease, as well as in 51 controls without inflammati on. Results Platelet counts were significancy higher in active vs, inactive Cro hn's disease, ulcerative colitis and giant cell arteritis. Levels of platel et factor 4 and beta-thromboglobulin were significantly higher in active in flammatory bowel disease and giant cell arteritis, as well as in inactive i nflammatory bowel disease and giant cell arteritis, than in the non-inflamm atory controls, A positive correlation was found between the Crohn's diseas e activity index and the platelet count, platelet factor 4 and beta-thrombo globulin, Also, a positive correlation was found between the ulcerative col itis activity index and beta-thromboglobulin. However, even after 12 months of follow-up, in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis the mean levels of platelet factor 4 and beta-thromboglobulin were significantly higher than the levels of the controls. Conclusion Platelet factors were correlated with inflammatory bowel disease activity. Levels of platelet factor 4 and beta-thromboglobulin, however, w ere markedly raised for a long time in clinically inactive inflammatory bow el disease, which might point to a pre-thrombotic state of disease.