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The usefulness of factor XIII levels in Crohn's disease

Pierre-Alain Cougard1, Ariadne Desjeux, Veronique Vitton

  • 1Department of Gastroenterology, Hopital Nord, Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France.

Journal of Crohn'S & Colitis
|March 9, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Factor XIII levels are lower in Crohn's disease (CD) patients, but this marker does not reflect disease activity or evolution. Further research is needed for reliable CD inflammatory markers.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Immunology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Assessing inflammatory activity in Crohn's disease (CD) is clinically challenging due to the lack of specific laboratory markers.
  • Previous studies suggest reduced serum factor XIII (FXIII) levels in CD patients, correlating with disease activity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether serum factor XIII levels can serve as a reliable marker for monitoring Crohn's disease activity and evolution.
  • To evaluate the correlation of factor XIII levels with disease course and other clinical parameters in CD.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective, single-centre study included 129 patients: 42 with functional bowel disorders (FBDs) and 86 with CD.
  • The CD cohort was stratified into active disease (CDa, n=41) and remission (CDb, n=45) based on the Crohn's Disease Activity Index.
  • Serum factor XIII levels were measured in all patients, with serial measurements in the active CD subgroup.

Main Results:

  • Factor XIII levels were significantly lower in CD patients (101.89%) compared to FBD patients (117.69%, p=0.009).
  • No significant difference in factor XIII levels was observed between active CD and CD remission subgroups (99.04% vs 104.65%, p>0.05).
  • Factor XIII levels did not correlate with disease evolution, CRP, fibrin, platelet count, disease distribution, or fistulizing disease.

Conclusions:

  • Serum factor XIII levels are indeed decreased in Crohn's disease patients.
  • Factor XIII levels cannot be recommended as a reliable biomarker for assessing disease activity or evolution in CD.
Abstract

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