title: The use of selected neutrophil protein plasma concentrations in the diagnosis of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis - a preliminary report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Difficulties in diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) motivate the search for new diagnostic tools, including laboratory tests. The aim of this study was to evaluate concentrations of the neutrophil (NEU) proteins leukocyte elastase (HLE-α1AT), lactoferrin and calprotectin as potential biomarkers used in the diagnosis and assessment of clinical activity of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 27 patients with CD, 33 patients with UC and 20 healthy controls. Plasma concentrations of calprotectin, lactoferrin and HLE-α1AT were measured using ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients with CD higher concentrations of HLE-α1AT (64.3±43.1 vs. 30.1±7.7 ng/l, P<0.001), calprotectin (151.6±97.8 vs. 69.9±22.1 ng/l, P<0.001) and lactoferrin (243.2±102.0 vs. 129.7±32.7 ng/l, P<0.001) than in the control group were found. In patients with UC higher plasma concentrations of HLE-α1AT (62.0±30.9 vs. 30.1±7.7 ng/l, P<0.001), calprotectin (149.6±72.3 vs. 69.9±22.1 ng/l, P<0.001) and lactoferrin (242.6±107.5 vs 129.7±32.7 ng/l, P<0.001) than in the control group were found. HLE-α1AT/NEU and lactoferrin/NEU ratios in patients with UC were significantly higher compared with patients with CD. Calprotectin (P=0.010) and lactoferrin (P=0.023) levels were higher in patients with the active compared with inactive phase of CD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diagnostic characteristics of plasma granulocyte protein concentrations indicate the usefulness of these tests in the diagnosis of IBD. Higher HLE-α1AT and lactoferrin/NEU ratios in patients with UC than with CD may suggest the usefulness of these ratios in differential diagnostics. Plasma calprotectin and lactoferrin levels may be useful in CD activity assessment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostics, Chair of Clinical Biochemistry Jagiellonian University Medical College Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pawlica-Gosiewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostics, Chair of Clinical Biochemistry Jagiellonian University Medical College Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Solnica
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostics, Chair of Clinical Biochemistry Jagiellonian University Medical College Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gawlik
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cibor
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mach
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostics, Chair of Clinical Biochemistry Jagiellonian University Medical College Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fedak
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Owczarek
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000097:blood*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000097:blood; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C490098:LTF protein, human; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; D007781:Lactoferrin