Objective: Refractory fistula formation is one of most intractable complications in Crohn's disease. Recently, the role of blood coagulation Factor XIII has been recognized as an important wound-healing factor. We investigated the plasma concentration and functional activity of blood coagulation Factor XIIIa, active subunit of the Factor XIII, in patients with Crohn's disease and in healthy volunteers.
Methods: Peripheral blood was obtained from 24 patients with Crohn's disease and from 10 healthy volunteers. The functional activity of Factor XIIIa was measured by its transglutaminase activity, and plasma concentration was measured by the immunoelectrophoresis method.
Results: The differences in Crohn's disease patients and healthy volunteers were not significant. However, Crohn's disease patients with fistula had significantly lower functional activity than Crohn's disease patients without fistula.
Conclusions: The deficiency in this wound-healing factor might be one reason for refractory fistulas in Crohn's disease, and supplementation of the factor might be useful therapeutically.