Calprotectin in Daily Practice: Where Do We Stand in 2017?

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Clinical Diagnostics
• Biomarker Research

Background:

• Distinguishing organic from functional gastrointestinal diseases is crucial for clinicians.
• Gastrointestinal symptoms are often varied and non-specific, complicating diagnosis.
• The goal is to minimize diagnostic delays and avoid unnecessary invasive procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current literature on faecal calprotectin (FC) and its clinical applications.
• To analyze the strengths and limitations of FC measurement in gastroenterology.
• To propose a practical approach for managing patients based on FC levels.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent studies on faecal calprotectin.
• Analysis of FC's role in differential diagnosis and disease monitoring.
• Evaluation of FC's correlation with endoscopic findings and treatment response.

Main Results:

• Faecal calprotectin (FC) demonstrates high clinical sensitivity as a marker of intestinal inflammation.
• FC is valuable for differentiating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
• FC effectively monitors IBD patients and predicts treatment response, correlating well with endoscopic activity.

Conclusions:

• FC is a proven, sensitive marker for intestinal inflammation, aiding IBD diagnosis and management.
• Challenges remain regarding FC's specificity and managing intermediate levels, highlighting a need for clearer guidelines.
• Further research is needed to clarify FC's role in conditions like collagenous and infectious colitis.