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Serum lysozyme activity in inflammatory bowel disease.
Southern Medical Journal
|September 1, 1978
Summary
Serum lysozyme activity is elevated in patients with Crohn's disease of the small bowel. However, levels in patients with ulcerative colitis or granulomatous colitis were similar to healthy individuals.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
- Lysozyme, an enzyme involved in innate immunity, has been investigated as a potential biomarker in IBD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum lysozyme activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
- To determine if serum lysozyme levels differ between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples were collected from 70 patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease.
- Serum lysozyme activity was quantified using the lysoplate method.
Main Results:
- Serum lysozyme levels were significantly elevated exclusively in patients diagnosed with Crohn's disease affecting the small bowel.
- Patients with either granulomatous colitis or ulcerative colitis exhibited serum lysozyme values comparable to those of normal control subjects.
- Disease activity did not influence serum lysozyme levels in patients with granulomatous or ulcerative colitis.
Conclusions:
- Elevated serum lysozyme activity may serve as a specific indicator for Crohn's disease of the small bowel.
- Serum lysozyme activity does not appear to be a useful biomarker for distinguishing ulcerative colitis or granulomatous colitis from healthy controls.