Faecal calprotectin concentrations in gastrointestinal diseases

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Clinical Diagnostics
• Biomarker Research

Background:

• Gastrointestinal disorders present a wide range of symptoms.
• Accurate and noninvasive diagnostic tools are crucial for timely management.
• Faecal calprotectin is an emerging biomarker for intestinal inflammation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic utility of faecal calprotectin.
• To quantify faecal calprotectin levels across various gastrointestinal conditions.
• To differentiate inflammatory bowel diseases from other gastrointestinal disorders.

Main Methods:

• Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for quantification.
• Stool samples were collected from patients with gastrointestinal symptoms and healthy controls.
• Study included 210 patients with diagnosed GI diseases and 50 controls.

Main Results:

• Faecal calprotectin concentrations were significantly elevated in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
• Significantly higher levels were found in IBD patients compared to controls, colorectal polyps, or irritable bowel syndrome.
• Faecal calprotectin effectively differentiated IBD from non-IBD conditions (AUC 0.949).
• Elevated levels were also noted in oesophageal polyps and gastric neoplasms versus other upper GI conditions.

Conclusions:

• Faecal calprotectin demonstrates significant diagnostic value for IBD.
• It serves as a promising noninvasive marker for identifying intestinal inflammation.
• The marker aids in distinguishing IBD from other gastrointestinal pathologies.