Platelet kinetics in Crohn's disease.

The pathogenesis of thrombocytosis in Crohn's disease was analized in ten non-treated patients using the 51Cr labelling method. The data obtained were compared to those taken from a control group. Besides platelet survival time, platelet turnover, surface radioactivity, platelet adhesiveness and morphological aspects of bone marrow were investigated. Platelet survival time in patients with Crohn's disease proved to be significantly shortened (p less than 0.001), whereas platelet turnover appeared augmented. No additional radioactivity is encountered from the organs scanned. The relative platelet adhesiveness is diminished while thrombocytopoesis in bone marrow is augmented.