The Effect of Colchicine on Mean Platelet Volume in Behcet's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Patients with Behcet's Disease are recognized to be at an increased risk for venous and/or arterial thrombosis. Colchicine reduces the initiation and amplification of inflammation and is believed to suppress secretion of cytokines and chemokines and in vitro platelet aggregation. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of colchicine on levels of mean platelets volume, platelets, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein in patients with Behcet's Disease. METHODS: Patients with Behcet's Disease were evaluated for mean platelets volume before colchicine therapy (Group 1) and after 6-month from beginning of colchicine treatment (Group 2). RESULTS: Fifty-two subjects were evaluated. The mean age was 38.3 years and the female/male ratio was 28/24=1.16. Laboratory tests were evaluated in Group 1 and Group 2. The median level of mean platelets volume was 9.2+/-0.8 fl in Group 1 and 8.9+/-0.9 fl in Group 2. Levels of mean platelets volume was found as significant between Group 1 and 2 (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Given the proposed relationship between MPV and platelet activity, MPV may serve as a surrogate essay for Behcet's response to colchicine. Colchicine might suppress platelet function and be used in vascular involvement together with immunosuppressant agents in Behcet's Disease. Further studies in large population are needed to evaluate the role of colchicine in platelet function and the effect of colchicine on thrombosis in BD.