[Usefulness of fecal transferrin measurement in gastrointestinal hemorrhage]

In the immunological fecal occult blood test, an antibody to hemoglobin (Hb) is primarily used. For such a test, the usefulness of an antibody to transferrin (Tf) has not been well examined. To compare Tf and Hb as markers of gastrointestinal hemorrhage, we conducted a quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for both proteins in 53 cases, with subsequent analysis based on lesion groups (malignant tumor, benign tumor, or inflammation). Hb testing showed no differences among the lesion groups, whereas the positive rate of Tf was significantly higher in the malignant group than in the inflammatory group. Moreover, the case positive for only Tf corresponded to one malignant case among the 53 cases. On the basis of this result, using a qualitative test, we further tested 878 cases that were positive for only Tf. We found that 81 cases positive for only Tf corresponded to various lesions, particularly 4 cases that corresponded to a malignant tumor. In conclusion, our results suggest that concurrent measurement of Hb and Tf should be a more effective test for gastrointestinal hemorrhage.