Background The diagnosis of IBD and evaluation of treatment require endoscopy, which is difficult in children. This study evaluated the use of TFF3 as a biomarker. Methods Permeability of the intestinal mucosa and serum TFF3 were assayed and colon tissue was harvested 7 days after inducing IBD in mice with TNBSA. TFF3 was monitored in 51 pediatric IBD patients stratified by active disease or remission and in 20 healthy children. Mucosal healing was assessed by the Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn Disease and Baron scores in CD and UC patients. Results Histological evaluation revealed transmural inflammation of the colon in IBD model mice. Permeability of the intestinal mucosa and serum TFF3 were both higher in TNBSA-treated than in control mice ( P < 0.05). TFF3 was higher in children with active IBD than in those in remission and in healthy children ( P < 0.05). TFF3 was positively correlated with the SES-CD score ( P < 0.05) but not with either the pediatric CDAI score or the serum CRP. The sensitivity of serum TFF3 for monitoring CD activity was 100% and the specificity was 76.2%. Conclusions TFF3 level increased with CD activity, which is of significance for diagnosis and for evaluation of mucosal healing. TFF3 could also be a marker in pediatric UC, as TFF3 positively correlated with UCAI. Impact The diagnosis and evaluation of IBD is difficult; endoscopy provides objective assessment; TFF3 can be a useful marker instead of endoscopy. TFF3 was increased in active CD of children; TFF3 can be used as a clinical marker of pediatric CD; TFF3 can diagnose and evaluate mucosal healing of CD. Pediatrician should pay attention to clinical marker; TFF3 level may be a key evaluation of mucosal healing of CD; the value of diagnosis of TFF3 in CD is important.

中文翻译：

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使用血清三叶因子肽评估儿童炎症性肠病活动度

背景 IBD 的诊断和治疗评估需要内窥镜检查，这在儿童中很困难。该研究评估了 TFF3 作为生物标志物的用途。方法在TNBSA小鼠诱导IBD后7天，测定肠黏膜通透性和血清TFF3，并收集结肠组织。在按活动性疾病或缓解分层的 51 名儿科 IBD 患者和 20 名健康儿童中监测 TFF3。粘膜愈合通过 CD 和 UC 患者的克罗恩病简单内窥镜评分和 Baron 评分进行评估。结果组织学评估揭示了IBD模型小鼠结肠的透壁炎症。肠黏膜和血清 TFF3 的渗透性在 TNBSA 处理的小鼠中均高于对照小鼠（ P < 0.05）。活动性 IBD 儿童的 TFF3 高于缓解期和健康儿童（ P < 0.05）。TFF3 与 SES-CD 评分呈正相关（ P < 0.05），但与儿科 CDAI 评分或血清 CRP 均不相关。血清TFF3监测CD活性的敏感性为100%，特异性为76.2%。结论 TFF3水平随CD活性升高而升高，对诊断和评估黏膜愈合具有重要意义。TFF3 也可能是儿科 UC 的标志物，因为 TFF3 与 UCAI 呈正相关。影响 IBD 的诊断和评估困难；内窥镜检查提供客观评估；TFF3 可以是有用的标记物，而不是内窥镜检查。儿童活动性CD中TFF3升高；TFF3可作为儿科CD的临床标志物；TFF3 可以诊断和评估 CD 的粘膜愈合。儿科医生应注意临床标志物；TFF3 水平可能是 CD 黏膜愈合的关键评价；CD 中 TFF3 的诊断价值很重要。