Determination of serum antibodies to Clostridium difficile toxin B in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Clostridium difficile infection has increased in prevalence among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Serum antibodies against C. difficile toxins have been detected in susceptible populations and may be protective; however, such antibodies have not been previously characterized in IBD patients. This study measured immunoglobulin G antibody levels to C. difficile toxin B in serum from IBD patients in remission and IBD patients in relapse. IBD patients demonstrated significantly higher antibody levels than non-IBD patients. In addition, a higher proportion of IBD patients in remission had positive antibody levels compared to IBD patients in relapse. Further characterization of antibody responses may elucidate understanding of susceptibility to C. difficile infection among IBD patients.