Serological differentiation of inflammatory bowel diseases.

Objective: In order to shorten the diagnostic procedures simple serological tests with high diagnostic value for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are required. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the diagnostic value of a newly developed assay for the determination of antibodies to mannan of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in combination with antibodies to antigens of exocrine pancreas, goblet cells, human neutrophils and tissue transglutaminase.

Methods: Sera from 112 patients with Crohn's disease (82 confirmed and 30 suspected cases), 65 patients with ulcerative colitis, 13 patients with indeterminate colitis, 212 patients with other diseases and 250 healthy blood donors were tested for IgA and IgG antibodies to mannan of S.