Elevated plasma von Willebrand factor levels in patients with active ulcerative colitis reflect endothelial perturbation due to systemic inflammation

Table 1 Demographic and clinical data of ulcerative colitis patients (mean±SD)

	Active UC (n = 34)	Inactive UC (n = 12)
Male/female	22/12	8/4
Age (yr)	41.5±14.6 (17–73)	42.8±15.2 (18–65)
Extent of disease
Rectosigmoiditis	6	3
Left-sided colitis	20	6
Pancolitis	8	3
SCCAI score	8±3 (3–12)	0±1 (0–2)
Endoscopic score	16±2 (12–18)	2±1 (0–3)
Treatment
Oral steroids	15	0
5-ASA compounds	30	12
Azathioprine	11	2
None	2	0
Smoking	7	5

SCCAI: simple clinical colitis activity index; 5-ASA: 5-aminosalicylates.

Table 2 Acute phase reactants and coagulation factors in patients with ulcerative colitis and healthy controls (mean±SD)

	Active UC (n = 34)	Inactive UC (n = 12)	Healthy controls (n = 52)
vWF (%)	143.38±63.73 (49-278)	98.92±43.6a (25-188)	100.75±29.65b (51–160)
ESR (mm/h)	40±21 (10-97)	16±12a (4-40)
CRP (mg/L)	24.7±40.2 (3.1-175.5)	4.1±1.7a (3.1-7.3)
Fibrinogen (g/L)	4.86±1.21 (2.93-7.3)	3.48±1.14a (1.25-5.61)
D-dimers (μg/L)	873±1 308 (32-3 993)	608±1 149 (19-4 038)
F1+2 (nmol/L)	3.71±6.09 (0.21–22.53)	3.72±6.41 (0.28-21.52)
TAT (μg/L)	6.91±15.18 (0.09–85.9)	3.99±4.2 (0.85-13.2)

vWF: von Willebrand factor; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP: C-reactive protein; F1+2: prothrombin fragments 1+2; TAT: thrombin–antithrombin complexes.

^aP<0.05 active UC vs inactive UC.

^bP<0.001 active UC vs HC.

Table 3 Laboratory parameters at baseline and after 12 wk of therapy in active UC patients who completed the study (n = 32) (mean±SD)

	Weeks of follow-up	Responders	Non-responders
	Paired samples t test	n = 22	n = 10
ESR (mm/h)	Baseline	43±24	34±13
	12th week	32±18	27±12
	P	0.055	0.206
CRP (mg/L)	Baseline	27.21±42.13	22.24±41.2
	12th week	11.11±25.57	11.42±13.29
	P	0.106	0.460
Fibrinogen (g/L)	Baseline	4.9±1.13	4.98±1.48
	12th week	4.05±0.68	4.55±0.82
	P	0.001	0.372
vWF (%)	Baseline	153.91±69.53	129.3±50.35
	12th week	111.14±30.65	105.4±32.87
	P	0.005	0.153
F1+2 (nmol/L)	Baseline	3.73±5.73	4.21±7.26
	12th week	1.23±1.12	0.71±0.26
	P	0.043	0.186
D-dimers (μg/L)	Baseline	1 202±1 522	302±329
	12th week	251±288	683±1 286
	P	0.005	0.381
TAT (μg/L)	Baseline	4.39±4.6	13.43±26.94
	12th week	5.41±13.1	1.97±1.57
	P	0.733	0.211

vWF: von Willebrand factor; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP: C-reactive protein; F1+2: prothrombin fragments 1+2; TAT: thrombin–antithrombin complexes.