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: TNF alpha, TNF alpha-R1 and R2, IL-1 beta, IL-1R, IL 2, IL-R2, IL-6, IL-10, and IFN gamma. All patients were followed-up for one year. Result: Sixty-six patients had Crohn's disease (CD) and 69 had ulcerative colitis (UC). Thirty-nine (30%) had a relapse. Forty-four percent were receiving immunomodulatory therapy. No differences were found regarding detection and baseline concentration of the various cytokines between patients with CD and UC, or between patients with or without ongoing use of immunomodulators. The detection and concentration levels of cytokines were not associated with the risk of relapse of IBD. Conclusions: Systemic cytokines are of little value to predict IBD relapse.