The importance of fecal calprotectin in the diagnostics and treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases

Czech version

Authors: J. Letkovský; T. Hlavatý
Authors‘ workplace: V. interná klinika LF UK a UN Bratislava
Published in: Gastroent Hepatol 2015; 69(1): 43-49
Category: IBD: Review Article
doi: https://doi.org/10.14735/amgh201543

Overview

Calprotectin is a cytosolic protein of neutrophil leukocytes. Its concentration correlates with migration of neutrophiles into intestinal lumen. Therefore it is a reliable marker of intestinal inflammation and it is being used in the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. In recent years, new evidence is emerging of its potential use in monitoring of the disease activity, response to therapy or in predicting the disease relapse. However, the use of calprotectin in these indications is rather limited due to persistent uncertainty concerning cut-off values and intervals of its examination.

Key words:
fecal calprotectin – inflammatory bowel disease – ulcerative colitis – Crohn’s disease

The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study.

The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE „uniform requirements“ for biomedical papers.

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