BackgroundIntestinal ultrasound (IUS) is a non‐invasive tool for evaluating transmural inflammation in Crohn's disease (CD). However, its utility is constrained by operator dependency and limited accessibility.AimsTo explore the feasibility of serum biomarkers—specifically leucine‐rich alpha‐2 glycoprotein (LRG)—as an alternative to IUS for assessing transmural inflammation.MethodsThis retrospective, single‐centre study included patients with CD who underwent IUS and measurements of LRG and C‐reactive protein (CRP). We assessed correlations between biomarkers and five IUS scores (Limberg score, Bowel Ultrasound Score (BUSS), International Bowel Ultrasound Segmental Activity Score (IBUS‐SAS), Simple Ultrasound Score (Simple‐US) and Simple Ultrasound Score for Crohn's Disease (SUS‐CD)) using receiver operator characteristic curve analysis and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. We conducted subgroup analyses for patients in clinical remission.ResultsWe analysed 213 IUS examinations performed on 97 patients; 170 (80%) IUS were during clinical remission. The area under the curve for LRG for each IUS score (0.76, 0.80, 0.77, 0.75 and 0.69, respectively) was superior to that of CRP and was statistically significant, particularly for LS, BUSS, IBUS‐SAS and Simple‐US (p < 0.001, p = 0.018, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Predictive values remained consistent among patients in remission. LRG demonstrated excellent correlation with IUS scores in both the overall patient population and those in remission.ConclusionLRG showed a robust correlation with IUS scores, suggesting its potential as a novel indicator for targeting transmural healing in patients with CD.

中文翻译：

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富含亮氨酸的 α-2 糖蛋白与克罗恩病患者通过肠道超声评估的透壁炎症有关


背景肠道超声 （IUS） 是一种用于评估克罗恩病 （CD） 透壁炎症的非侵入性工具。但是，其实用性受到操作员依赖性和有限的可访问性的限制。目的探讨血清生物标志物（特别是富含亮氨酸的 α-2 糖蛋白 （LRG））作为 IUS 替代品评估透壁炎症的可行性。方法这项回顾性、单中心研究包括接受 IUS 并测量 LRG 和 C 反应蛋白 （CRP） 的 CD 患者。我们使用受试者操作员特征曲线分析和 Spearman 秩相关系数评估生物标志物与 5 个 IUS 评分 （Limberg 评分、肠道超声评分 （BUSS）、国际肠道超声节段活动评分 （IBUS-SAS）、简单超声评分 （Simple-US） 和克罗恩病的简单超声评分 （SUS-CD）） 之间的相关性。我们对临床缓解的患者进行了亚组分析。结果我们分析了对 97 例患者进行的 213 例 IUS 检查;170 例 （80%） IUS 处于临床缓解期。每个 IUS 评分的 LRG 曲线下面积 （分别为 0.76、0.80、0.77、0.75 和 0.69） 优于 CRP 且具有统计学意义，特别是对于 LS、BUSS、IBUS-SAS 和 Simple-US （分别为 p < 0.001、p = 0.018、p < 0.001 和 p < 0.001）。缓解患者的预测值保持一致。LRG 与总体患者群体和缓解期患者的 IUS 评分均表现出极好的相关性。结论LRG 与 IUS 评分呈较强的相关性，表明其有可能成为 CD 患者靶向透壁愈合的新指标。