Engelsk titel: Measurement of calprotectin in feces
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Författare:
Jahnsen J
;
Röseth AG
Email: jorgen.jahnsen@medisin.uio.no
Språk: Nor
Antal referenser: 33
Dokumenttyp:
Översikt
UI-nummer: 09041572
Sammanfattning
Background. Calprotectin is a calcium-binding protein found in neutrophils. Inflammatory damage of the intestinal mucosa causes an influx of neutrophils into the intestinal lumen, after which increased calprotectin levels can be measured in stools. This review is based on publications identified through a non-systematic search in Medline and our clinical experience from measuring calprotectin in faeces for more than 10 years.
Results. Calprotectin is first of all a very good marker of intestinal inflammation. The test is therefore a useful tool for investigation of abdominal discomfort when symptoms and clinical examination make it difficult to determine whether the condition is organic or functional. At the time of diagnosis, all patients with inflammatory bowel disease have clearly increased levels of faecal calprotectin; in patients with irritable bowel syndrome the levels are normal. Normalization of faecal calprotectin seems to be a strong indicator of healing of the intestinal mucosa.
Interpretation. Determination of calprotectin in faeces can therefore contribute to reducing the number of unnecessary colonoscopies, which is especially important in children. Faecal calprotectin is a simple test and an objective parameter of treatment response and disease course in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.