Blood coagulation alterations and thromboembolism in Crohn's disease.

The present study was undertaken in view of the higher incidence of thromboembolism in patients with Crohn's disease. The blood coagulation system was studied in 12 patients previously operated for Crohn's disease (8 cases of ileitis, 4 cases of colitis) and followed as out-patients. In 75% of cases, the disease was in an inactive stage. Eight patients showed slight lipid malabsorption. Serum levels of fibrinogen, platelets and factor V were shown to be significantly increased (p less than 0.001) as compared to controls. Prothrombin time and factors II, VII and X were shown to be decreased, while factors VIII and IX and antithrombin III were not significantly altered. Thrombocytosis and hyperfibrinogenemia, as reported in literature, seem to determine a condition of blood hypercoagulability, playing therefore a primary pathogenetic role in the genesis of thromboembolism in patients with Crohn's disease.