Serum Leucine-Rich α Glycoprotein: A Novel Biomarker For Small Bowel Mucosal Activity in Crohn's Disease.

Active lesions in the small bowel (SB) have been independently associated with poorer prognoses in patients with Crohn's disease (CD); however, there has been a lack of accurate and convenient screening methods. Past studies have found that serum levels of the glycoprotein leucine-rich α glycoprotein (LRG) correlates with endoscopic activity in ulcerative colitis, and this is now available for routine clinical use as a biomarker in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in Japan. LRG has not yet been thoroughly verified in CD, and we investigated whether it can be used as a serum biomarker for detecting SB mucosal activity in patients with CD.