Abstract
Circulating levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in plasma were measured in gauging activity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). One hundred-fifteen adult IBD patients were studied cross-sectionally and prospectively, 48 with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 67 with Crohn's disease (CD). Sequential samples of plasma were assayed for VIP by specific radioimmunoassay. Sixty males and 55 females, ranging in age from 22 to 76 years were studied over six months. The results revealed a strong, positive association between VIP levels and clinical activity, both at baseline (r=0.38, P<0.001) and follow-up (r=.41, P<0.001). The ability of the VIP immunoassay to gauge clinical activity was also evaluated where VIP concentrations above 30 pg/ml were defined as abnormal. At baseline, sensitivity (specificity) was found to be 81% (55%). The predictive value of a positive (negative) test was 57% (80%). These estimates did not differ at follow-up. Examination of paired plasma samples from intermittently active patients revealed nearly twofold increases (P<0.05) in VIP concentration during active periods of disease. The data suggest that plasma VIP levels may be a valuable laboratory parameter in gauging activity in inflammatory bowel disease.
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Supported by research grants AI 15939-08, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; HD 19679-02, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; and CA 09051, National Cancer Institute, Department of Health and Human Services.
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Duffy, L.C., Zielezny, M.A., Riepenhoff-Talty, M. et al. Vasoactive intestinal peptide as a laboratory supplement to clinical activity index in inflammatory bowel disease. Digest Dis Sci 34, 1528–1535 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537105
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537105