[Clinical importance of organ-specific antibodies in ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease].

In 479 patients with chronic inflammatory intestinal diseases and other abdominal diseases autoantibodies against intestinal goblet cells and exocrine pancreas were determined by indirect immunofluorescence. In ulcerative colitis 17% had serum antibodies against intestinal goblet cells, in Crohn's disease 26% against exocrine pancreas. Autoantibody prevalence and level of the titre were dependent on the inflammatory activity of both diseases but independent on the therapy. In Crohn's disease high level of titres of antibodies against exocrine pancreas we found in cases with multiple complications. Antibodies titres against intestinal goblet cells in ulcerative colitis and against exocrine pancreas in Crohn's disease exceeding 1:100 improved the diagnostic decision. Besides clinical states, endoscopic and histological findings a positive result of the antibody investigations had to be considered for final diagnosis.