B a c k g r o u n d a n d s t u d y a i m s: The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of serum concentrations of YKL-40/ CHI3L1 (a 40-kilodalton glycoprotein also referred to as chitinase 3 like- 1 — CHI3L1) and PIIINP (N-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen), markers of fibrosis, in the monitoring of inflammatory processes and fibrosis in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

P a t i e n t s a n d m e t h o d s: In 60 patients (41 with Crohn’s disease (CD), 19 with ulcerative colitis (UC)) concentrations of investigated parameters were measured at baseline (day 0), after 3 and after 6–8 weeks of pharmacological treatment.

R e s u l t s: PIIINP concentrations were significantly higher in CD patients compared to UC (baseline results: median concentrations 1013.73 vs 78.30 ng/mL; P = 0.06 for the Kruskall-Wallis test; results at 6–8 weeks: 1076.48 vs 53.10 ng/mL, P = 0.01). Fibrosis was clearly present in patients with CD and its severity increased (reflected by both YKL-40/ CHI3L1 and PIIINP concentrations) in 6–8 weeks of follow up, regardless of the treatment used during that time. In patients with UC the levels of YKL-40/CHI3L1 and PIIINP were lower at baseline and further decreased after 6–8 weeks (median concentrations were respectively: 39.5 ng/mL vs 24.7 ng/mL and 78.3 ng/mL vs 53.1 ng/mL).

C o n c l u s i o n: Fibrosis was more severe in CD than in UC patients. The marker that more accurately reflected these differences was PIIINP.

B a c k g r o u n d: Regulation of energy balance in patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) is disturbed due to lack of significant part of the intestine. The goal of the research was to analyse the plasma concentrations of selected regulatory peptides — ghrelin, visfatin, and irisin — in children with SBS.

M e t h o d s: To achieve this aim we recruited study group consisted of 28 children with SBS fed parenterally for at least two weeks, mean age 14 ± 5 months and mean standardised body mass index (SDS-BMI) –1.26 ± 0.84. The control group was represented 25 healthy children of matching age and SDS-BMI. The plasma concentrations of peptides (ghrelin, visfatin, and irisin) were determined using immunoassays, and liver enzymes (AST, ALT, GGT) using an auto-analyser.

R e s u l t s: We observed lower visfatin and ghrelin levels in the study group as compared to controls (both P <0.0001). The lowest total ghrelin concentration was observed in SBS children after ileal resection (P = 0.0016). Irisin concentration did not differ between the groups. Most of the SBS children showed elevated liver enzymes activities at the first measurement and during one-year follow-up.

C o n c l u s i o n: Our findings showed that plasma ghrelin and visfatin themselves may play a role in the course of SBS, while a lack of disturbance in irisin might imply that it is neither playing any role nor it is affected by SBS itself.