Relationship between methylation and colonic inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between the methylation status in the SLIT2 and TGFB2 promoters and colonic inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease patients.

Methods: We evaluated the methylation status of 2 genes (SLIT2 and TGFB2) in 226 biopsies taken from 62 colonoscopies of 38 patients (29 ulcerative colitis and 9 Crohn's colitis) using methylation-specific melting curve analysis. The relationships between methylation status and clinical, biological, endoscopic and histological activities were evaluated.

Fecal level of calprotectin identifies histologic inflammation in patients with ulcerative colitis in clinical and endoscopic remission.

Background & Aims: Histologic recovery of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) often is incomplete, even among those in clinical and endoscopic remission. Persistent active microscopic inflammation is associated with an increased risk of relapse and colorectal neoplasia. A high level of fecal calprotectin (FC) is a reliable marker of endoscopic lesions in patients with UC.