Can systemic cytokines predict relapse of inflammatory bowel disease?

Background/aims: To determine the value of systemic cytokines as predictors of relapse in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methodology: A prospective study with 135 patients in clinical remission for at least 3 months. At enrollment, a venous blood was drawn in order to measure, by an ELISA test, the following cytokines: TNFalpha, TNFalpha-R1 and R2, IL-16, IL-1beta, IL 2, IL-R2, IL-6, IL-10, and IFNgamma.