Journal of Crohn's & colitis
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Angiopoietins are essential angiogenic mediators. Since inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) involves inflammation, ulceration and regeneration of the intestinal mucosa, the angiopoietin system has been proposed as a factor to maintain pathological angiogenesis during the development of the IBD. ⋯ Angiopoietins have key functions in the angiogenic process, and their abnormal activation might depend on their surrounding inflamed environment. The determination of these angiogenic factors in serum and tissue could be useful for monitoring IBD progression.