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Updated: Jun 30, 2026
08:43
Investigating Intestinal Inflammation in DSS-induced Model of IBD
Published on: February 1, 2012
Can calprotectin predict relapse risk in inflammatory bowel disease?
Renata D'Incà1, Elisabetta Dal Pont, Vincenza Di Leo
1Department of Surgical and Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
|September 20, 2008
Summary
Fecal calprotectin tests can predict clinical relapse in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. A positive calprotectin level in ulcerative colitis (UC) and colonic Crohn's disease (CD) indicates a higher risk of relapse.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Clinical Diagnostics
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research
Background:
- Assessing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) clinical course requires regular evaluations and lab tests.
- Predicting relapse is crucial for effective IBD management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the predictive role of fecal calprotectin testing for clinical relapse in IBD patients.
- To determine if calprotectin levels can identify patients at higher risk of relapse.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 97 ulcerative colitis (UC) and 65 Crohn's disease (CD) patients in remission.
- Stool samples analyzed for calprotectin, with a cutoff of 130 mg/kg.
- Patients followed for 1 year, with relapse rates analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests.
Main Results:
- Positive calprotectin predicted relapse in UC patients (P=0.000).
- In CD patients, only colonic CD showed a significant correlation between positive calprotectin and relapse (P=0.02).
- Relapse rates were higher in patients with positive calprotectin tests for both UC and colonic CD.
Conclusions:
- Fecal calprotectin measurement is a valuable tool for identifying UC and colonic CD patients at increased risk of clinical relapse.
- This non-invasive test aids in proactive management strategies for IBD patients.
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