Study: Plasma Levels May Point to Vascular Lesions in Rheumatic Disorders

Levels of beta thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4 found in plasma may be helpful in assessing the presence of vascular lesions in patients with rheumatic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, according to a report in Clinical Rheumatology.

Japanese researchers evaluated the effectiveness of plasma levels of beta thromboglubulin and platelet factor 4 as markers of the presence and activity of vascular lesions by measurement of their levels in one patient with rheumatoid arthritis who had a chronic leg ulcer.

Investigators then looked at these levels in 11 patients with rheumatoid arthritis without vascular problems and in nine patients with a variety of rheumatic diseases with skin lesions.

In the first patient, plasma levels of beta thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4 were elevated and slowly reduced in conjunction with healing. Levels rose again after relapse but became normal after disappearance of the leg ulcer.

In the second group, both plasma levels were elevated in all of the nine patients with skin lesions and in one of the 11 patients with rheumatoid arthritis without skin lesions.

"Levels of beta thromboglubulin and platelet factor 4 may be useful to estimate the presence of vascular lesions in rheumatic disorders," the researchers concluded.

Other sources: Clinical Rheumatology