Controversies about the use of serological markers in diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease.

The serological markers are increasingly used in diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). D-lactate and diamine oxidase are new indicators that can be used to reveal the damage to intestinal mucosa and permeability alteration in IBD. Although the two biological markers seem more sensitive, recent clinical trials and animal experiments have shown controversies about the use of them in diagnosis of IBD. Therefore, these markers should be interpreted cautiously and further prospective studies are needed to establish their clinical role in diagnosis of IBD.