title: Evaluation of fecal myeloperoxidase as a biomarker of disease activity and severity in ulcerative colitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Subclinical inflammation in ulcerative colitis (UC) can predispose to relapses and biomarkers can detect mucosal inflammation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the role of fecal myeloperoxidase (FMPO) in assessing disease activity and response to therapy in UC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with UC attending our hospital from July 2005 to September 2006 were studied. All patients underwent clinical, endoscopic, and histological assessment for disease extent and severity. Estimation of FMPO levels at baseline and on follow-up was carried out. Age-matched healthy controls were studied for FMPO levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 55 patients of UC (30 males, 25 females, mean age 38.6 ± 12 years) and 54 age-matched controls (mean age 37.6 ± 13.6 years) were studied. Cases had higher median MPO levels than controls (0.42 [IQR 0.84] vs. 0.06 [IQR 0.12]); (p < 0.001). Cases with endoscopically more severe disease (Gr III & IV; n = 18) had higher median FMPO levels compared to those with milder disease (Gr II, n = 37), [0.075 (IQR 1.315) vs. 0.315 (IQR 0.813); p = 0.02]. The median MPO level in 27 patients was 0.58 [IQR 0.89] units/ml at presentation which on follow-up decreased significantly to 0.18 [IQR 0.42] units/ml (p value 0.002). However, there was no significant association between FMPO and endoscopic extent and histological scores of activity and chronicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fecal MPO is an effective biomarker for assessing disease activity and response to therapy in patients with ulcerative colitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Masoodi
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kochhar
authors.forename: Usha
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dutta
authors.forename: Chetana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vaishnavi
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vaiphei
authors.forename: Shabnum
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: Kartar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015415:Biomarkers; D001706:Biopsy; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000379:methods; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D015415:Biomarkers; D019804:Mesalamine; D009195:Peroxidase