Platelet Adhesion And Aggregation In Behcet’S Syndrome

 

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Both venous and arterial thrombosis can be a feature in some patients with Behcet’s Syndrome. The pathogenesis of the coagulopathy is as yet ill understood. We have examined platelet adhesion and platelet aggregation in 14 patients with proven Behcet’s Syndrome and compared them with matched controls. Platelet adhesion was measured by two techniques recently developed in our laboratory. In the first platelet adhesion is determined when platelet rich plasma is applied to a glass slide while applying a predefined centrifugal force. In the second method citrated whole blood is pumped through an inert silicone tube and applied to a glass slide in the form of a stagnation point flow field. The number of platelets adhering to the slide per unit area is determined. The conditions of blood flow through this system were similar to those prevailing in arteries of similar size. Adhesion is found to be significantly greater in Behcet’s patients by both methods. There was a 30% increase in platelet adhesion in the Behcet patients. Platelet aggregation was determined by the Born method. Platelet rich plasma was used and 5HT, epinephrine, ADP, and collagen were the aggregating agents. In our hands platelets from the Behcet’s patients are more sensitive to aggregation induced by epinephrine and ADP than platelets from our controls.

It appears that disturbed platelet function may play an important role in the coagulopathy of Behcet’s Syndrome.