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Fecal calprotectin in pediatric gastrointestinal diseases: Pros and cons
Mohammed Al-Beltagi1,2,3, Nermin Kamal Saeed4,5, Adel Salah Bediwy6,7,8
1Department of Pediatric, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta 31511, Alghrabia, Egypt.
Insights
Fecal calprotectin is a useful non-invasive biomarker for pediatric gastrointestinal diseases. While not perfectly specific, it aids in diagnosing and monitoring inflammation, offering significant clinical advantages.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Biomarker Research
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Background:
- Fecal calprotectin is a key biomarker for intestinal inflammation in children.
- Its precise role, benefits, and drawbacks across pediatric gastrointestinal conditions require thorough examination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the utility of fecal calprotectin in pediatric gastrointestinal diseases.
- To analyze its advantages and limitations in clinical practice.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search across major scientific databases until February 2024.
- Inclusion of diverse study types: research articles, reviews, meta-analyses, and consensus papers.
Main Results:
- Fecal calprotectin effectively detects intestinal inflammation and monitors activity in various pediatric conditions.
- Challenges include lack of specificity and confounding factors, yet it provides significant diagnostic and management benefits.
Conclusions:
- Fecal calprotectin shows strong potential in pediatric gastroenterology for assessing disease activity and treatment response.
- Standardized protocols and further research are essential to overcome interpretation challenges and maximize its clinical value.
Background:
Fecal calprotectin is a valuable biomarker for assessing intestinal inflammation in pediatric gastrointestinal diseases. However, its role, pros, and cons in various conditions must be comprehensively elucidated.
Aim:
To explore the role of fecal calprotectin in pediatric gastrointestinal diseases, including its advantages and limitations.
Methods:
A comprehensive search was conducted on PubMed, PubMed Central, Google Scholar, and other scientific research engines until February 24, 2024. The review included 88 research articles, 56 review articles, six meta-analyses, two systematic reviews, two consensus papers, and two letters to the editors.
Results:
Fecal calprotectin is a non-invasive marker for detecting intestinal inflammation and monitoring disease activity in pediatric conditions such as functional gastrointestinal disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease, coronavirus disease 2019-induced gastrointestinal disorders, gastroenteritis, and cystic fibrosis-associated intestinal pathology. However, its lack of specificity and susceptibility to various confounding factors pose challenges in interpretation. Despite these limitations, fecal calprotectin offers significant advantages in diagnosing, monitoring, and managing pediatric gastrointestinal diseases.
Conclusion:
Fecal calprotectin holds promise as a valuable tool in pediatric gastroenterology, offering insights into disease activity, treatment response, and prognosis. Standardized protocols and guidelines are needed to optimize its clinical utility and mitigate interpretation challenges. Further research is warranted to address the identified limitations and enhance our understanding of fecal calprotectin in pediatric gastrointestinal diseases.
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