Differential behavior of coagulation factor XIII in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and in patients with giant cell arteritis

The aim of this prospective study was to examine the role of coagulation fa ctor XIII (FXIII) in relation to disease activity in inflammatory bower dis ease (IBD) and in giant cell arteritis. Plasma FXIII activity was studied d uring active and inactive disease in newly diagnosed patients with Crohn's disease (CD; n = 20), ulcerative colitis (UC; n = 18) and giant cell arteri tis (GCA; n = 19), in 3-month intervals (median follow-up 12 months). FXIII was also measured in two noninflammatory control groups, age and sex match ed for IBD (n = 25) and GCA (n = 26). FXIII activity was significantly lowe r in active CD or UC than in active GCA or the noninflammatory controls. Bo th in CD and UC, FXIII activity correlated inversely with indices of clinic al disease activity, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, fibrinogen and C-r eactive protein levels. Low FXIII activity is a characteristic feature of a ctive IBD, and serial measurements may be useful to assess IBD activity. Co pyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.