Tumour necrosis factor alpha in stool as a marker of intestinal inflammation

CP Braegger, S Nicholls, SH Murch, TT MacDonald… - The Lancet, 1992 - Elsevier
CP Braegger, S Nicholls, SH Murch, TT MacDonald, S Stephens
The Lancet, 1992Elsevier
Measurement of disease activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease is difficult. The
best available methods are complex and time consuming, but it may be possible to use
tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) concentration in stool as a marker of disease activity.
We measured TNFα concentrations in stool samples from normal children, infants with
diarrhoea, and children with inflammatory bowel disease in active and inactive phases of the
disease. In 10 normal children and 14 children with diarrhoea, median stool TNFα …
Abstract
Measurement of disease activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease is difficult. The best available methods are complex and time consuming, but it may be possible to use tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) concentration in stool as a marker of disease activity. We measured TNFα concentrations in stool samples from normal children, infants with diarrhoea, and children with inflammatory bowel disease in active and inactive phases of the disease. In 10 normal children and 14 children with diarrhoea, median stool TNFα concentrations were 58 and 45 pg/g stool, respectively. Compared with diarrhoeal controls, stool TNFα concentrations were significantly increased in children with active Crohn's disease (n = 13, median 994 pg/g, p < 0·0002) and active ulcerative colitis (n = 4, range 276-5982 pg/g, p < 0·003). In patients with inactive disease, either as a result of surgery or treatment with steroids, the concentration of stool TN Fα fell to those of controls. Measurement of stool TNFα concentations may provide a simple way to monitor disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease.
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