Mast cell tryptase in sera of patients with Crohn's disease and mastocytosis.
BACKGROUND
The pathogenesis of Crohn's disease is unclear, but an abnormal immune response seems to play an important role. This study investigated whether serum tryptase could be shown in Crohn's disease as a marker of disease.


METHODS
Mast cell tryptase was detected in sera of 48 patients with active Crohn's disease, 31 patients with inactive Crohn's disease, 17 patients with mastocytosis, and 50 controls. Tryptase detection was carried out by UniCap System. Tryptase levels are given as U/l x m2 body surface area to overcome variations of body weight, height, etc. between malnourished and normal persons.


RESULTS
Serum tryptase levels (U/l x m2 body surface area) of controls were 2.4+/-1.0, of patients with Crohn's disease 2.5+/-2.0. In contrast, serum tryptase values were significantly increased in untreated patients with mastocytosis (21.19+/-18.55).


CONCLUSIONS
Mast cell tryptase is not elevated in sera of Crohn's disease. It might thus be speculated that this highly mast cell associated mediator might only contribute to local symptoms of Crohn's disease such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, etc., but not to its systemic inflammatory effects (Th 1 cytokine pattern). Tryptase may be well used for the screening of patients with mastocytosis.
de Rossi
Thomas Michael
TM
First Department of Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Functional Tissue Diagnostics, Ulmenweg, Erlangen, Germany. Thomas.deRossi@uk-erlangen.de
Krauss
Norbert
N
Wilken
Verena
V
Giera
Benita
B
Konturek
Peter C
PC
Kressel
Jürgen
J
Hahn
Eckhart Georg
EG
Raithel
Martin
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests / Q000379:methods; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008415:Mastocytosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D053802:Tryptases / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D053802:Tryptases