Abstract
In Behçet's disease, thrombophlebitis of cutaneous veins is common and that of deep veins occurs occasionally. In order to study thrombus formation in twenty-eight patients who have Behçet's disease, their platelet function was measured by various methods and compared with the control group.
The number of platelets in Behçet's disease was not different from that of the control group. The maximum aggregation and the incidence of secondary aggregation induced by ADP were significantly higher than those in the control group. Platelet sensitivity was also higher in Behçet's disease. Increased tendency of platelet aggregation seems to be an etiological factor in thrombus formation.
The plasma concentrations of platelet factor 4 (PF4) and β-thromboglobulin (β-TG) were measured by RIA. The plasma PF 4 concentration in Behçet's disease is three times higher than that in the control group. However, plasma β-TG concentration in Behçet's disease was not different from that in control group. The reason why the increase of PF 4 was shown and that of β-TG wasn't in Behçet's group has not been investigated.
The plasma concentrations of prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) were measured by RIA as 6-keto PGF1α and TXB2 respectively. The level of TXB2 in Behçet's disease was not different from that of the control group. But the 6-keto PGF1α level was significantly increased in Behçet's disease.
The increased plasma concentration of PGI2 suggests a homeostatic reaction against thrombus formation in Behçet's disease.
