Plasma transforming growth factor-beta1 level in inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma transforming growth factor-B1 concentration in patients with inflammatory bowel disease at different stages of disease activation and to compare these values with those of healthy controls.

METHODS: A total of 70 patients (31 women) evaluated in the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinics of TUrkiye YUksek Ihtisas Hospital, Gastroenterology Department, and 20 healthy controls (10 women) were enrolled in the study. Serum samples were obtained from 40 patients with ulcerative colitis (female/male: 18/22, mean age: 41.5+/-12), 30 patients with Crohn's disease (female/male: 17/13, mean age: 36.9+/-1.9) and 20 healthy controls (female/ male: 10/10, mean age: 32.1+/-1.7). The control group included normal blood donors without gastrointestinal complaints or a familial history of inflammatory bowel disease. Clinical activity in Chron's disease was measured by Crohn disease activity index and in ulcerative colitis patients by Rachmilewitz endoscopic index. Chron's disease patients with a Chron's disease activity index >150 and ulcerative colitis patients with a Rachmilewitz index > or =4 were accepted to have active disease. Determination of transforming growth factor-B1 level was performed with the enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS: Serum transforming growth factor-B1 levels were measured as: Chron's disease 1133.3+/-766.5 pg/ml, ulcerative colitis 1362.5+/-880.6 pg/ml and control group 1230.0+/-572.7 pg/ml. There were no significant differences between the three groups. In patients with active disease in ulcerative colitis, transforming growth factor-B1 level was measured as 1952.5+/-543.7, while this value was 772.5+/-750.5 in patientsin remission in ulcerative colitis. There was a significant difference between patients with active ulcerative colitis and remission ulcerative colitis.

CONCLUSIONS: In inflammatory bowel disease, transforming growth factor-B1 can be used as a marker for differential diagnosis of active ulcerative colitis patients and remission ulcerative colitis patients. Nevertheless, more studies with larger patient groups are necessary.