Immunological and pathological prognostic markers of relapse in ulcerative colitis

ABSTRACT

Patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis [UC] need satisfactory biochemical, immunological and pathological markers to detect relapse which may influence optimal mangment and to detect relation of these markers to the degree and extent of the disease. Patients and twenty eight patients with UC in remission, were followed for 12 months, we had doneESR, CRP, microalbuminuria, interleukin 1-B [IL-B], Interleukin 2[IL-2], and colonic mucosal biopsies at the start of the study, at the time of clinical relapse and at the end of the study. Results Patients with active UC had higher microalbuminuria compared with those in remission [p<0.001], also, significantly higher concentration of microalbuminuria were detected in extensive disease compared with left sided disease [p<0.05]. In relapsing UC there are significant increase in IL-1B and in IL-2, also there is a significant correlation between IL-1B and CRP. Over the period of the study 38% relapsed, the relapse was not related to the duration or extent of the disease. In relapse acute inflammatory infiltrate was present in 40% and crypt abscesses in 60%. Microalbuminuria as well IL-1B and IL-2 are prognostic indicators of activity in UC. Also acute inflammatory infiltrate and crypt abscesses are considered indices of active colonic inflammation