INTRODUCTION: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.
INTRODUCTION: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.