Abnormal function of platelets and role of angelica sinensis in patients with ulcerative colitis

AIM:To explore the abnormal function of platelets and therole of angelica sinensis injection(ASI)in patients withulcerative colitis(UC).METHODS:In 39 patients with active UC,25 patients withremissive UC and 30 healthy people,α-granule membraneprotein(GMP-140)and thromboxane B2(TXB2)weredetected by means of ELISA,6-keto-PGF1awas detected byradioimmunoassay,platelet count(PC)and 1 min plateletaggregation rate(1 min PAR)were detected by bloodautomatic tester and platelet aggregation tester respectively,and yon Willebrand factor related antigen(vWF:Ag)wasdetected by the means of monoclonal-ELISA.The 64 patientswith UC were divided into two therapy groups.After routinetreatment and angelica sinensis injection(ASI)+routinetreatment respectively for 3 weeks,all these parameterswere also detected.RESULTS:The PC,1 min PAR and levels of GMP-140,TXB2,and vWF:Ag in active UC were significanrly higherthan those in remissive UC and normal controls(P<0.05-0.01).Meanwhile,1 min PAR and levels of GMP-140,TXB2,and vWF:Ag in remissive UC were still significantly higherthan those in normal controls(P<0.05).Furthermore,6-keto-PGF1alevel in active and remissive UC was remarkablylower than that in normal control(P<0.05-0.01).Theseparameters except 6-keto-PGF1awere significantly improvedafter the treatment in ASI therapy group(P<0.05-0.01),whereas they all were little changed in routine therapygroup(P>0.05).CONCLUSION:Platelets can be significantly activated inUC,which might be related with vascular endothelium injuryand imbalance between TXB2and 6-keto-PGF1ain blood.ASI can significantly inhibit platelet activation,relievevascular endothelial cell injury,and improve microcirculationin UC.