@article {Lobo54, author = {A J Lobo and S C Jones and L D Juby and A T Axon}, title = {Plasma viscosity in inflammatory bowel disease.}, volume = {45}, number = {1}, pages = {54--57}, year = {1992}, doi = {10.1136/jcp.45.1.54}, publisher = {BMJ Publishing Group}, abstract = {AIMS: To assess the relation of plasma viscosity to disease activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS: Crohn{\textquoteright}s disease (n = 60) and ulcerative colitis (n = 71) were diagnosed on the basis of typical histological or radiological features. Active Crohn{\textquoteright}s disease was defined as a Crohn{\textquoteright}s disease activity index of 150 or over. Active ulcerative colitis was defined as a liquid stool passed three times a day or more with blood. Blood samples were assessed for haemoglobin concentration, total white cell count, platelets, plasma viscosity, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum albumin, and C-reactive protein. RESULTS: Plasma viscosity was higher in those with active Crohn{\textquoteright}s disease compared with those with inactive Crohn{\textquoteright}s disease or active ulcerative colitis. Plasma viscosity correlated significantly with erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and platelet count in patients with Crohn{\textquoteright}s disease. In ulcerative colitis plasma viscosity correlated only with serum C-reactive protein. Plasma viscosity showed a low sensitivity for detecting active Crohn{\textquoteright}s disease, with 48\% of those with active disease having a plasma viscosity within the laboratory reference range. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma viscosity is related to disease activity in Crohn{\textquoteright}s disease, but is insufficiently sensitive for it to replace erythrocyte sedimentation rate as a measure of the acute phase response in Crohn{\textquoteright}s disease.}, issn = {0021-9746}, URL = {https://jcp.bmj.com/content/45/1/54}, eprint = {https://jcp.bmj.com/content/45/1/54.full.pdf}, journal = {Journal of Clinical Pathology} }