Pancreatic autoantibodies in Crohn's disease:: a feasible diagnostic tool?

The exact role of serum antibodies in inflammatory bowel disease remains a matter of ongoing debate. Although a direct implication in the disease pathogenesis is unlikely, their diagnostic potential in cases of an undetermined colitis or in defining clinical phenotypes in Crohn's disease has been shown in several studies. Serum antibodies might also be helpful in predicting the disease behaviour and are thus valuable tools in the choice of medical or surgical therapy. (c) 2005 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.