[Effect of parenteral nutrition on serum proteins in patients with Crohn disease]

The concentration of 19 serum proteins was determined by radial immunodiffusion in 23 patients with Crohn's disease before and after treatment with parenteral nutrition. The results were related to body weight and Crohn's Disease Activity Index. An increased serum concentration of retinol-binding protein, prealbumin, and transferrin paralleled an increase of body weight. Alpha-1-glycoprotein, alpha-2-chymotrypsin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, C-reactive protein, and haptoglobin decreased during parenteral nutrition and showed a positive correlation to the Crohn's Disease Activity Index. The determination of certain proteins is clinically useful, since their serum concentration reflects the influence of parenteral nutrition on nutritional status and disease activity. Measurement of these proteins provides a useful guide to the management of patients with Crohn's disease treated with parenteral nutrition.