title: Does the urinary excretion of alpha1-microglobulin and albumin predict clinical disease activity in ulcerative colitis?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There remains some difficulty in determining disease activity during the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The excretion levels of some inflammatory response molecules increase as a result of the onset of this disease. We studied urinary alfa-1-microglobulin (alpha1-MG) and albumin levels in patients with active and inactive ulcerative colitis (UC) and investigated whether we could use these parameters as an activity index.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out at Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Nephrology and Gastroenterology Departments, between December 2003 and March 2006. In total, 35 patients (male/female: 16/19, mean age: 38.3+/-2.4 years) and 13 healthy controls (male/female: 6/7, mean age: 35.8+/-2.8 years) were enrolled in the study. Nineteen patients had symptoms of active disease and the remaining 16 patients had inactive disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference in serum C-reactive protein (CRP), urinary albumin excretion, and alpha1-MG excretion levels between patients and controls. Patients with active disease had significantly higher serum CRP and alpha1-MG levels than those with inactive disease and controls. Patients with active disease had higher microalbuminuria levels than inactive patients, but this difference was not statistically significant. Urinary albumin and alpha1-MG excretion did not correlate with serum CRP levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study suggests that, as with CRP, urinary levels of albumin and alpha1-MG increase during the active period of UC. During the inactive period, concentrations of these parameters are comparable to controls. The measurement of alpha1-MG and/or microalbuminuria could provide information on disease severity and response to treatment.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Department, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Besevler, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ulver
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Derici
authors.forename: Candan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tuncer
authors.forename: Fatma Ayerden
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Ebinç
authors.forename: Ruya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mutluay
authors.forename: Fahri
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yakaryilmaz
authors.forename: Sevsen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kulaksizoglu
authors.forename: Oguz
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Soylemezoglu
authors.forename: Sukru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sindel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000652:urine*; D000510:Alpha-Globulins / Q000652:urine*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000510:Alpha-Globulins; D015415:Biomarkers; C016001:alpha-1-microglobulin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein