Crohn's disease is associated with a hypercoagulable state due to platelet or clotting abnormalities which may be responsible for the thromboembolic episodes seen in this condition. We report the occurrence of anticardiolipin antibodies in a patient with Crohn's disease who presented with Amaurosis fugax and suggest that these antibodies may be a further cause of the hypercoagulable state of Crohn's disease in some patients.
Mackworth-YoungCG, LoizouS, WalportMJ.Primary antiphospholipid syndrome: features of patients with raised anticardiolipin antibodies and no other disorder.Ann Rheum Dis1989; 48: 362–7.
12.
AshersonRA, MerryP, AchesonJF, HarrisEN, HughesGRV.Antiphospholipid antibodies: a risk factor for occulusive ocular vascular disease in systemic lupus erythematosus and the ‘primary’ antiphospholipid syndrome.Ann Rheum Dis1989; 48: 358–61.
13.
MerryP, AchesonJF, AshersonRA, HughesGRV.Management of retinal vein occlusion.Br Med J1988; 296: 294.
14.
ViannaJL, D'CruzDP, KhamashtaM.A., AshersonRA, HughesGRV.Anticardiolipin antibodies in a patient with Crohn's disease and thrombosis.Clin. Exp. Rheumatol.1992; 10: 165–8.
15.
KwaanHC, CoccoA, MendeloffAI, AstruppT.Fibrinolytic activity in the normal and inflamed rectal mucosa.Scand J. Gastroenterol1969; 4: 441–5.
16.
De JongE, PorteRJ, KnotEAR, VerheijenJH, DeesJ.Distributed fibrinolysis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. A study in blood plasma, colon mucosa and faeces.Gut1989; 30: 188–94.
17.
TalstadI, RootwellK, and GjoneE.Thrombocytosis in chronic bowel inflammatory disease.Scand J Gastroenterol1970; 8: 135–8.
18.
HawkeyCJ, KarmeliF, RachmeilewitzD.Imbalance of prostacyclin and thromboxane synthesis in Crohn's disease.Gut1983; 24: 881–5.