[Measurement of fecal proteins in inflammatory bowel disease--usefulness as an activity index]

Fecal alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1-AT), alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2-M), lysozyme (Lz), and lactoferrin (Lf) levels were measured in 73 samples from 32 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 52 samples from 21 patients with Crohn's disease (CD), and 41 samples from 21 healthy volunteers. According to three degree of bowel activity, the UC patients were divided into 4 groups and the CD patients were divided into 2 groups. Fecal alpha 1-AT levels were measured by latex agglutination and the other protein parameters by ELISA. All protein levels, except alpha 1-AT, rose as the degree of activity increased. The fecal protein markers alpha 2-M, LZ, and Lf had significantly higher positive rates than the serum inflammatory markers and activity index in the moderate and severe UC groups, and alpha 2-M and Lf had significantly higher rates in the CD (+) group. Based on these findings measurement of fecal levels on alpha 2-M, LZ, and Lf appeared to be useful activity markers for UC, and alpha 2-M and Lf for CD.