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From: zumone2002 on 24 Sep 2008 21:35
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-09/wjog-sia092408.php

Simple, inexpensive and objective tools for the assessment of mucosal
inflammation: fecal markers

UC and CD, the two major forms of IBD are chronic, idiopathic
inflammatory conditions of the gut with a typically relapsing and
remitting course. A prominent feature in mucosal biopsies from
patients with active IBD is infiltration by neutrophil granulocytes.
Moreover, the number of eosinophil granulocytes is also increased in
IBD. Upon activation, neutrophils release Calprotectin and MPO, two
major neutrophil proteins, while eosinophils release the protein, EPX.
Previous studies have shown that fecal markers may be used to
differentiate IBD from functional gastrointestinal disorders, but the
usefulness of these markers in monitoring therapy of patients with
active relapse of IBD needs further evaluation.

A research article to be published on September 28, 2008 in the World
Journal of Gastroenterology addresses this question. A research team
led by Associate professor M Carlson, Department of Medical Sciences,
Uppsala University, evaluated patients with previously diagnosed UC or
CD before starting treatment, and after 4 and 8 week of treatment.
Treatment outcome, based on clinical activity and endoscopic findings
in UC patients, and clinical activity in CD patients, was evaluated
together with fecal levels of FC, and compared with fecal MPO and EPX.
Fecal samples were analyzed for FC with ELISA, and MPO and EPX with
RIA.

The authors have previously reported that elevated fecal levels of EPX
and MPO may be useful in monitoring therapy in UC. The present study
confirmed previous findings that patients with a relapse of IBD had
elevated fecal markers. Interestingly, this study also demonstrated
that normalized FC level may be used as a surrogate marker for
successful treatment outcome in IBD patients. However, patients with
persistently elevated FC levels need further evaluation. FC and MPO
provided better assessment of treatment outcome than EPX in patients
with UC, whereas EPX has the potential to identify treatment outcome,
especially in patients with CD. These findings suggest that fecal
markers can be used as surrogate markers for successful treatment
outcome in IBD patients. Fecal markers are simple, inexpensive and
objective tools for the assessment of mucosal inflammation.

###

Reference: Wagner M, Peterson Ch, Ridefelt P, Sangfelt P, Carlson M.
Fecal markers of inflammation used as surrogate markers for treatment
outcome in relapsing inflammatory bowel disease. World J Gastroenterol
2008; 14(36):5584-5589
http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/14/5584.asp

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Luke
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