Calprotectin in Low anterior resection syndrome patients; a new insight into diagnosis and management: A pilot study

Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) has been reported to occur in up to 80% of patients after low anterior resection (LAR). This study aimed to investigate the role of fecal calprotectin in the diagnosis of LARS in patients subjected to LAR.

This was a pilot study conducted on a group of patients that developed LARS after LAR who presented to the colorectal unit of Cairo University Hospital from November 2019 to April 2021. Fecal calprotectin levels were measured for all 36 eligible patients with persistent symptoms of LARS and those with high levels were treated using mesalamine tablets (500 mg, with a total of 3 g per day in divided doses) for one month, then 2 g per day for the subsequent five months.

The study participants were treated using mesalamine and re-evaluated after six months. Twenty (55.5%) of the 36 patients experienced marked improvement while 10 (27.7%) improved from major to minor LARS with decreased levels of calprotectin. Six (16.6%) patients showed no significant improvement in symptoms (high LARS score) and still had high levels of fecal calprotectin.

Fecal calprotectin can be a useful tool in the diagnosis and treatment planning of persistent LARS. Our study also demonstrated the efficacy of immune modulators such as mesalamine (pentasa) in treating LARS in patients who are unresponsive to conventional dietary restrictions.