Urinary leukotriene E4 excretion: a biomarker of inflammatory bowel disease activity.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are chronic inflammatory disorders collectively referred to as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Cysteinyl leukotrienes are proinflammatory 5-lipoxygenase-derived products that play a major role in the immune and inflammatory response. Consequently, they may be involved in the pathogenesis of IBD.

[Steatosis, chronic hepatitis virus C infection and homocysteine].

Homocysteine, a sulfuric amino acid involved in methionine metabolism, belongs to the group of intracellular thiols. Hyperhomocysteinemia is frequent in the Caucasian population (more than 15%) and its role in vascular pathology has been clearly established. In hepatology, experimental data in transgenic mice deficient in homocysteine metabolism enzymes have shown the presence of severe liver steatosis with occasional steatohepatitis.

[Cytomegalovirus and cryptogenic inflammatory bowel disease].

CMV infection has been reported in association with some flares of IBD. Its prevalence varies with the method of diagnosis and the severity of IBD. Although the link between CMV and IBD is not clear, the immunomodulator properties of the virus may play a role in the evolution of IBD.