Abstract
Biochemical markers are a non-invasive way of objectively measuring inflammation in ulcerative colitis
and can play an adjunctive or primary role in the assessment of disease activity. Aim of this study was to A)
evaluate serum levels of some biomarkers “leptin, adiponectin, resistin, and ghrelin” in ulcerative colitis (UC)
patients, besides the ordinary inflammatory markers, B) to correlate the results with the disease activity, with the
clinical characteristics of the disease C) and to examine the possible interaction between the estimated parameters
values. Study was conducted on 56 UC patients from the Clinic of Internal Medicine Department and Endoscopy
Unit of Alzahraa Hospital, Alazhar University, besides 30 healthy subjects served as control group. Results: Mean
levels of ESR, CRP, TNF-á, resistin and ghrelin were significantly higher in active UC patients than the control
group, while after the courses of treatment 47 patients achieved complete remission (inactive UC) mean values of
these biochemical parameter deceased significantly than the original values at the active disease and the values
reached nearly the normal ranges. While in patients (9 patients) who did not achieved complete remission, there
were moderate decreased serum levels of these biochemical markers but still higher values than the control group
and they still have manifestations of active UC. The mean level of leptin was significantly decreased in active UC
patients compared to the control group, while after the course of treatment in patients achieved complete remission
(inactive UC) the mean value increased significantly (with mean value 10.1 ng/ml). Conclusion: Our data indicate
that, the increased plasma resistin, TNF-á and ghrelin levels correlated with activity of ulcerative colitis and so they
could predict the response to therapy and possibly reflect an acute-phase response due to inflammation more than
the ordinary inflammatory markers. Resistin, TNF-á and ghrelin levels could be considered as an independent
predictor of disease activity in patients with UC and may represent link between inflammation and UC. [Journal of
American Science 2010; 6(6):146-155]. (ISSN: 1545-1003). |
