Natural coagulation inhibitory proteins and activated protein C resistance in Turkish patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Thromboembolic events are a rare but significant complication of inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of natural coagulation inhibitors and activated protein C resistance in Turkish patients with inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS: Fifty patients (29 male, 21 female) without venous thrombosis history and 37 healthy controls were included in the study. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, thrombocyte count, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen concentration, von Willebrand factor antigen, factor VIII activity, activated protein C resistance, functional levels of antithrombin III, protein C and protein S were measured. Patients and controls with activated protein C resistance were further studied using a polymerase chain reaction assay for factor V Leiden mutation. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between patients and the controls in terms of antithrombin III, protein C, protein S, factor (F) VIII and Willebrand factor levels. The mean thrombocyte counts, fibrinogen levels, and Willebrand factor levels were found to be significantly higher in patients who were in the active period of the disease than in controls and patients in remission. No significant difference was observed in those showing activated protein C resistance and factor V Leiden mutation between patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of inherited thrombophilic defects, in particular activated protein C resistance and natural coagulation inhibitor deficiency, is uncommon in Turkish patients with inflammatory bowel disease in both active and remission periods. As a result, a controlled study in inflammatory bowel disease patients with thrombosis history is recommended.