Circulating platelet-leukocyte aggregates in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis are considered to be chronic inflammatory disorders implicated with recurrent tissue damage to the intestine. There is a positive correlation between platelet-leukocyte aggregates and ischemic vascular risk. There are limited data about the relationship between platelet-leukocyte aggregates and IBD. This study was designed to determine whether platelet-leukocyte aggregates increase in IBD, and whether a relationship exists between the elevation of platelet-leukocyte aggregates and disease activity.

METHODS

A total of 20 patients with IBD (16 with ulcerative colitis and 4 with Crohn's disease) and 20 healthy controls participated in our study. Nine patients were in active-phase IBD, whereas 11 patients were in inactive phase. To show the presence of thrombocyte aggregates, the monoclonal antibodies such as Isotype IgG1 mouse antihuman CD42b-PE (phycoerythrin) (Beckman Coulter IMI417), Isotype IgG1 mouse antihuman CD45-FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate) (Beckman Coulter IM0782), and Isotype IgG2a mouse antihuman CD45RO-FITC (Beckman Coulter IMI247) were used. Additionally, the values of platelet-neutrophil aggregates were measured in peripheral blood samples using flow cytometry techniques.

RESULTS

The levels of platelet-leukocyte aggregates in blood samples were found to be significantly higher during both the active and inactive phases in patients with IBD. There were no statistically significant differences between active-phase and inactive-phase patients.

CONCLUSION

We determined that the patient group had significantly higher platelet-leukocyte aggregate levels compared with the control group. This finding suggests that platelet-leukocyte aggregates may play a role in the development of IBD.