Diagnostic Value Of Fecal Calprotectin In The Intestinal Diseases

ObjectiveAs the common digestive tract diseases, inflammatory bowel disease(IBD), colorectal cancer, irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) have the same symptoms in clinic. They need to be identified with a number of auxiliary examination. The purpose of our experiment is assessing the value of fecal calprotectin as a non-invasive screening biomarker in differential diagnosis of IBD, colorectal cancer, IBS and healthy controls.Materials and MethodsSubiects were a total of 180 persons, including 60 patients with IBD,60 patients with colorectal cancer,30 patients IBS, and 30 healthy controls.5g fecal samples were collected. Fecal calprotectin was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).ResultsThe median of fecalcal protectin concentrations were 1063.42mg/kg,154.24mg/kg, 25.90mg/kg,18.50mg/kg in IBD, colorectal cancer, IBS and healthy controls respectively. The maximal calprotctin concentration was with IBD, the medium with colorectal cancer, the minimum with IBS and healthy controls. As suggested by Phical Test kit, fecal calprotectin concentration higher than 50mg/kg had a positive value, the positive rate of IBD was 95%, colorectal cancer group was 90%, IBS group was 13.3%, and healthy controls was 6.67%, and had a higher consistency with colonoscopy. There were statistical significance of calprotectin concentration between patients with IBD and colorectal cancer, IBD and IBS, IBD and healthy controls (All the P<0.0001). Also, there were statistical significance of calprotectin concentration between patients with colorectal cancer and IBS, colorectal cancer and healthy controls (All the P<0.001) But there was no statistical significance of calprotectin concentration between patients with IBS and healthy controls(P=0.016). ConclusionFecal calprotectin test can more accurately distinguish between organic diseases and functional diseases in digestive tract. Also, it has a high reference value in identifying IBD from colorectal cancer. Although it is not the gold standard in the diagnosis of intestinal diseases, but compared with colonoscopy, it is simple, inexpensive, repeatable and non-invasive. For the cases of the diseases have been diagnosed, it has important guiding significance in monitoring patient's condition, evaluating drug efficacy. A single measurement of fecal calprotectin is not sufficiently accurate to identify those with significant colorectal disease. However, a normal result can help rule out organic disease among patients with diarrhea and those with abdominal pain and/or constipation.