Serum calprotectin and IMA concentrations were compared among active BD cases, inactive BD cases and control subjects.

BD activity was assessed with BDCAF which assesse clinical characteristics present during the previous one month before evaluation. BDCAF include the following components: headaches; mouth ulcers; erythema; genital ulcers; arthritis; arthralgia; nausea/emesis/pain in abdomen; rectal bleeding; diarrhea; and new ocular, vascular, and nervous symptoms. Each component takes a score of (0) if absent or (1) if present [30]. The total BDCAF score was calculated by adding up the positive components (maximum score = 12). A BDCAF patient index score ≥2 was considered as active BD, while a score less than 2 was considered as inactive BD

Blood samples were withdrawn from all participants 12 h after fasting. Samples underwent centrifugation at 4000 rpm for ten minutes. The sera were collected and kept at -80°C till analysis.

Serum calprotectin concentrations were quantified utilizing a commercial calprotectin ELISA kit (Hycult Biotech Inc, US) based on manufacturer's instructions. Levels of high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) and albumin were detected using the immunoturbidimetric technique. Unit of measurment (μg/ml )

IMA was quantified based on albumin cobalt binding colorimetric assay according to Bar-Or and colleagues and the levels were expressed in absorbance units (ABSU). To obtain corrected IMA values, the equation (individual albumin level/median albumin level of population) × IMA ABSU value was applied. Unit of measurment ( kU/L)