Study of ectodomain of type 23 collagen as a novel marker of disease activity in patients with ulcerative colitis disease.

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBDs) are complex, multifactorial disorders characterized by chronic relapsing intestinal inflammation. This prospective cohort study aimed to assess the role of the serum ectodomain of type 23 collagen as a biomarker of disease activity in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). The study was conducted at Ain Shams University Hospitals over one year (April 1, 2023 to April 1, 2024) and included both inpatient and outpatient cases. Serum levels of type 23 collagen ectodomain were significantly higher in UC patients (4.08 ± 1.96 ng/mL) compared to healthy controls (1.85 ± 0.6 ng/mL, p < 0.001). Moreover, Patients with active UC had markedly elevated levels (5.46 ± 1.85 ng/mL) compared to those with inactive disease (2.7 ± 0.66 ng/mL). These findings suggest that serum type 23 collagen ectodomain is a promising marker for evaluating UC activity and severity, correlating closely with clinical, laboratory, endoscopic, and histopathological indicators of disease activity.