We attempt to examine the association between serum leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein (LRG) levels and endoscopic activity in patients with possible ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD) to determine whether LRG was a predicting marker for UC or CD.

Serum samples were collected from patients, and scores for clinical and endoscopic activity of disease were obtained by reviewing the clinical records of patients. Serum sampling and colonoscopy with histology were performed within 7 days.The disease activity of UC and CD patients was evaluated by the Mayo score and Crohn disease activity index (CDAI), respectively. The Mayo endoscopy score was evaluated. UC patients whose Mayo endoscopy score was 2 or 3 were divided into the active UC group.

CD patients whose CDAI >150 were divided into the active CD group.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients whom possible UC or Crohn disease was suspected

Exclusion Criteria:

• other autoimmune diseases
• acute or chronic renal failure
• chronic heart diseases
• liver cirrhosis
• cancer
• acute or chronic infections
• ischemic colitis
• infectious colitis

In total, a consecutive cohort of 300 patients with possible UC or CD will be enrolled in this study at our hospital.