Serum and faecal lysozyme in inflammatory bowel disease

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Gastroenterology
• Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) diagnosis and monitoring require reliable biomarkers.
• Lysozyme, an enzyme involved in immune response, has been investigated as a potential marker in gastrointestinal disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare serum and fecal lysozyme concentrations in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) against various control groups.
• To evaluate the diagnostic utility of lysozyme measurements using two different methods (turbidometric and lysoplate).

Main Methods:

• Serum and stool samples were collected from patients with active Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, other gastrointestinal diseases, and healthy controls.
• Lysozyme concentrations were measured using both turbidometric and lysoplate assays.
• Statistical analysis was performed to compare lysozyme levels between groups.

Main Results:

• Serum lysozyme was significantly higher in active Crohn's disease patients compared to healthy controls using the turbidometric method.
• Neither method could reliably differentiate Crohn's disease from ulcerative colitis or other gastrointestinal conditions.
• Fecal lysozyme levels were significantly elevated in IBD patients compared to healthy controls and non-diarrheal controls, but not different from other diarrheal conditions.

Conclusions:

• Serum lysozyme elevation is not specific enough for diagnosing IBD or differentiating subtypes.
• Fecal lysozyme may serve as an indicator of inflammation in IBD, particularly in the presence of diarrhea.
• Methodological differences and other factors influence lysozyme measurements, necessitating further research.