Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 13, 2025

Diagnosis of Hirschsprung's Disease by Immunostaining Rectal Suction Biopsies for Calretinin, S100 Protein and Protein Gene Product 9.5
05:45

Diagnosis of Hirschsprung's Disease by Immunostaining Rectal Suction Biopsies for Calretinin, S100 Protein and Protein Gene Product 9.5

Published on: April 26, 2019

14.0K

Fecal calprotectin in the pediatric population: a 2020 update

Fabio CisarÒ1, Antonio Pizzol2, Caterina Rigazio2

  • 1Unit of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy - fcisaro@cittadellasalute.to.it.

Minerva Pediatrica
|August 1, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Fecal calprotectin (FC) is a valuable marker for intestinal inflammation, aiding in differentiating organic from non-organic gastrointestinal diseases in children. This review highlights FC

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Gastroenterology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Calprotectin, a calcium and zinc-binding protein complex (S100A8/S100A9), is released by neutrophils.
  • Extracellular calprotectin in feces correlates with intestinal inflammation and neutrophil activity.
  • Fecal calprotectin (FC) aids in distinguishing organic from non-organic gastrointestinal disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current evidence on the utility of fecal calprotectin in pediatric gastrointestinal disorders.
  • To discuss established indications and future prospects for FC testing in children.
  • To emphasize FC's role in primary care for managing pediatric GI symptoms.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on fecal calprotectin in children.
  • Analysis of current evidence regarding FC's diagnostic and management applications.
  • Discussion of FC's role in differentiating organic vs. non-organic GI diseases.

Main Results:

  • Increased FC levels are observed in various pediatric conditions including gastroenteritis, microscopic colitis, polyps, malignancies, and cystic fibrosis.
  • FC testing can reduce the need for invasive procedures like colonoscopy by identifying inflammatory origins of GI symptoms.
  • Evidence supports FC's utility in managing pediatric GI disorders, though clear guidelines are still developing.

Conclusions:

  • Fecal calprotectin is a significant non-invasive biomarker for pediatric intestinal inflammation.
  • Incorporating FC into primary care can improve diagnostic accuracy and streamline investigations for GI issues in children.
  • Further research and guideline development are needed to optimize FC's application in pediatric gastroenterology.

More Related Videos

Implementation of Non-invasive Point of Care Transient Elastography for Evaluation of Liver Disease in Pediatric Populations with Cystic Fibrosis05:56

Implementation of Non-invasive Point of Care Transient Elastography for Evaluation of Liver Disease in Pediatric Populations with Cystic Fibrosis

Published on: August 29, 2025

361
Therapeutic Evaluation of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in an Interleukin 10-Deficient Mouse Model05:41

Therapeutic Evaluation of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in an Interleukin 10-Deficient Mouse Model

Published on: April 6, 2022

3.2K

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
148
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
131
Serum Laboratory Studies, Stool Test, Breath Test01:30

Serum Laboratory Studies, Stool Test, Breath Test

Gastrointestinal (GI) diagnostic studies are pivotal in confirming, ruling out, diagnosing, or staging various diseases, including cancers. Following diagnosis, allocating time for discussions with the patient and providing informational resources is crucial. Diagnostic assessments of the GI tract often occur in outpatient settings like endoscopy suites or GI labs. Preparation for these tests may include dietary restrictions, fasting, liquid bowel preparations, laxatives, enemas, and the...
618
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
113
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
176