Assessment of Disease Activity in Ulcerative Colitis by Faecal Calprotectin, a Novel Granulocyte Marker Protein

• Published in: Digestion Vol. 58; no. 2; pp. 176 - 180
• Main Authors: Røseth, Arne G., Aadland, Erling, Jahnsen, Jørgen, Raknerud, Nils
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland Karger 01.01.1997; S. Karger AG
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - analysis; Blood Platelets - chemistry; Blood Proteins - analysis; Blood Proteins - metabolism; Blood Sedimentation; Colitis, Ulcerative - diagnosis; Colitis, Ulcerative - metabolism; Colonic Diseases - metabolism; Endoscopy; Feces - chemistry; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Granulocytes - chemistry; Hemoglobins - analysis; Hemoglobins - metabolism; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules - metabolism; Original Paper; Other diseases. Semiology; Serum Albumin - analysis; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Colonoscopy, ulcerative colitis; Faecal calprotectin; Ulcerative colitis activity, assessment; Performance evaluation; Human; Evaluation; Cytologic investigation; Granulocyte; Biological marker; Activity; Inflammatory disease; Assay; Proteins; Pathology; Relation; Colonoscopy; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Endoscopy; Ulcerative colitis
• ISSN: 0012-2823; 1421-9867
• DOI: 10.1159/000201441

This study comprised 62 outpatients with ulcerative colitis who underwent 64 colonoscopies. The disease activity was evaluated according to endoscopic and histological criteria. The results revealed a significant correlation between both the endoscopic as well as the histological gradings of disease activity and faecal calprotectin. The median faecal calprotectin levels in the control group (6 mg/l) and in the patients with no or low disease activity (11.5 mg/l) were significantly different (p < 0.0001). The median calprotectin level among patients with active disease was 68 mg/l which was significantly different from the latter group (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, we suggest that the degree of inflammation rather than the extent of the disease determined the faecal calprotectin levels. In conclusion, assessment of faecal calprotectin seems to be a marker of disease activity in patients with ulcerative colitis.