PLATELET FUNCTION IN BEHÇET'S DISEASE

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Abstract
The coagulopathy observed in Behçet's disease has defied explanation. No pathology in concentration or function of coagulation parameters has been demonstrated. We have studied platelet adhesion function in 13 patients with established Behçet's disease, 5 with venous thrombosis and 8 with no involvement of veins, as well as in 30 age and sex matched healthy controls. Platelets derived from 10 of the 13 Behçet's patients exhibited significantly increased adhesion as compared to the controls (p<0.01). The platelets of 11 of the 13 tested patients showed significantly increased aggregation in response to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and epinephrine incomparison to those from controls (p<0.01).However, no correlation between disturbed platelet function and the clinical occurrence of the thrombotic phenomenon was noted. It is suggested that the thrombotic tendency may be related to platelet abnormality while the generation of the actual process is dependent on other factors which await elucidation.