Angiogenesis- promoting cytokines have been suggested to play an important r ole in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) since they promote inflammation by incre asing vascular permeability and mediate tissue repair by activating fibroblasts. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the serum levels of angiogenin, a potent angiogenic factor, in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’ s disease (CD). Angiogenin serum levels were measured in 154 IBD patients (78 UC and 76 CD), in 18 cases with other causes of intestinal inflammation, and in 84 matched healthy controls using a commercially available enzyme- linked immunoso rbent assay. Angiogenin levels were assessed in terms of disease activity, type, localization, and treatment. Mean (± SD) serum angiogenin levels were 526.5 ± 224.1 ng/ml in UC patients, 508.8 ± 228.5 ng/ml in CD patients, 394.6 ± 13 7.6 ng/ml in healthy controls, and 448.1 ± 167.8 ng/ml in patients with non- IBD intestinal inflammation. A statistically significant difference among the me an levels of angiogenin in the four groups was found (P = 0.0003). IBD patients with early disease had a significantly lower mean serum angiogenin compared with patients with late disease (P = 0.03). No significant association between angio genin levels and disease activity, localization, disease type, or treatment was found. Serum angiogenin is elevated in patients with IBD. The increased serum an giogenin suggests that angiogenin may mediate angiogenesis and vascular permeabi lity in the mucosa of patients with IBD. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the serum levels of Angiogenin, a potent angiogenic factor, in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). Angiogenin serum levels were measured in 154 IBD patients (78 UC and 76 CD), in 18 cases with other causes of intestinal inflammation , and in 84 matched healthy controls using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Angiogenin levels were assessed in terms of disease activity, type, localization, and treatment. Mean (± SD) serum angiogenin levels were 526.5 ± 224.1 ng / ml in UC patients, 508.8 ± 228.5 ng / ml in CD patients, 394.6 ± 13 7.6 ng / ml in healthy controls, and 448.1 ± 167.8 ng / ml in patients with non- IBD intestinal inflammation. A statistically si gnificant difference among the levels of angiogenin in the four groups was found (P = 0.0003). IBD patients with early disease had a significantly lower mean serum angiogenin compared with patients with late disease (P = 0.03). No significant association between angio The level of genin levels and disease activity, localization, disease type, or treatment was found. Serum angiogenin is elevated in patients with IBD. The increased serum an giogenin suggests that angiogenin may mediate angiogenesis and vascular permeabi lity in the mucosa of patients with IBD.