[Blood protein concentrations--are they parameters of disease activity in Crohn's disease?]

Concentrations of 19 different proteins were measured after hospital admission, before hospital discharge and 3 months thereafter in 40 patients suffering from an acute episode of Crohn's disease. Serum levels of acute phase proteins (alpha 1-glycoprotein, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, alpha 1-antitrypsin, CRP, haptoglobin) and immunoglobulin M corresponded to the severity of inflammatory symptoms and correlated significantly with CDAI (Crohn's disease activity index). Albumin and transferrin were characteristic for nutritional status of the patient under basal conditions and during nutritional therapy. Prealbumin and retinol-binding protein behaved similarly, but results were not significant. The measurement of the proteins mentioned give valuable clues in regard to the course of the disease and therapeutic success in Crohn's disease.