Van der Sluys Veer A, Biemond I, Verspaget HW, Lamers CBHW. Faecal parameters in the assessment of activity in inflammatory bowel disease. Scand J Gastroenterol 1999;34 Suppl 230:106-10.Background: Determination of inflammatory activity is helpful when assessing the efficacy of drugs in therapeutic trials and in facilitating management of individual patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Faecal parameters have been hypothesized to be more specific than non-faecal measurements in the assessment of intestinal inflammation. Methods: Review of the literature on faecal measurements in IBD. Results and conclusions: Leakage of various proteins and leukocyte products into the intestinal lumen can be assessed and quantified in stool specimens and serve as a measurement of inflammatory activity. Several of these faecal parameters are raised in patients with IBD. There is a considerable overlap between patients with active and those with inactive disease, however, and the correlation of the faecal parameters with disease activity indices is often low. The value of a 1 -antitrypsin measurement in faeces in the assessment of intestinal inflammation has been well established. Further studies in patients with IBD are needed to determine whether other faecal parameters, such as lactoferrin, tumour necrosis factor a, PMNelastase, lysozyme, leucocyte esterase, immunoglobulin A, among others, are more accurate or costeffective than measurement of a 1 -antitrypsin in the stools of such patients.ORIGINAL ARTICLE Scand J Gastroenterol 1999 (Suppl 230) Scand J Gastroenterol Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Lakehead University on 11/03/14For personal use only. Scand J Gastroenterol 1999 (Suppl 230) 110A. van der Sluys Veer et al.Scand J Gastroenterol Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Lakehead University on 11/03/14For personal use only.