Can serologic markers predict the phenotype of ulcerative colitis?

Aims: The diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is supported by clinical findings and complementary tests. The presence of specific serological markers could be helpful in the characterization of this condition. Serological markers for IBD, including anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) and anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody (ASCA), have a high specificity and positive predictive value in diagnosing IBD. However, neither indication nor use in clinical practice have been clearly established. Aim: To assess the prevalence of ANCA and ASCA in a group of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and i…