Serum lysozyme activity in inflammatory bowel disease

Serum lysozyme activity was determined in the sera of 70 patients with inflammatory bowel disease by the lysoplate method. Serum lysozyme levels were significantly elevated only in patients with Crohn's disease of the small bowel. Patients with either granulomatous or ulcerative colitis had serum lysozyme values not different from normals, irrespective of activity of their disease.