Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
5 years ago

Fecal Calprotectin in Cystic Fibrosis and Its Relation to Disease Parameters: A Longitudinal Analysis for 12 Years

Fecal Calprotectin in Cystic Fibrosis and Its Relation to Disease Parameters: A Longitudinal Analysis for 12 Years
Engelhardt, Alexander, Steinkamp, Gratiana, Ellemunter, Helmut, Schüller, Katharina
Objectives: Fecal calprotectin (FC) is a marker of inflammation in the intestinal tract. We assessed FC levels longitudinally in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and evaluated the relation between FC results and relevant markers of disease. Methods: Calprotectin was measured in fecal samples starting in 2003 and values were stored in the center's patient database. In this retrospective analysis, we searched for associations of FC concentrations with disease severity and progression. Linear mixed effects models were used to model the logarithm of FC levels. Results: A total of 171 patients (0–61 years) had 2434 FC measurements between 2003 and 2015, with a total observation period of 1686 patient-years. Median (interquartile range) FC concentrations were 60.9 (75.9) μg/g and 61% of the samples showed elevated FC concentrations (>50 μg/g). Despite some statistically significant effects, there was no clinically relevant association among FC and sex, age, forced expiratory volume in 1 second z score, or body mass index z score. Pancreatic insufficiency (ie, fecal elastase <100 μg/g stool) was associated with considerably higher FC values compared to normal pancreatic function (median FC 68 vs 29 μg/g, P < 0.0001). F508del homozygous subjects showed a trend to higher FC values than heterozygous patients (median 71 vs 62 μg/g, P = 0.173). In addition, a significant association with increasing serum C-reactive protein concentrations (P < 0.0001) was observed. Conclusions: FC was elevated in two-thirds of stool specimens. Increased FC was more common in patients with pancreatic insufficiency. Whether increased FC reflects intestinal inflammation in patients with CF remains to be determined.

Publisher URL: http://journals.lww.com/jpgn/Fulltext/2017/10000/Fecal_Calprotectin_in_Cystic_Fibrosis_and_Its.22.aspx

DOI: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000001544

You might also like
Discover & Discuss Important Research

Keeping up-to-date with research can feel impossible, with papers being published faster than you'll ever be able to read them. That's where Researcher comes in: we're simplifying discovery and making important discussions happen. With over 19,000 sources, including peer-reviewed journals, preprints, blogs, universities, podcasts and Live events across 10 research areas, you'll never miss what's important to you. It's like social media, but better. Oh, and we should mention - it's free.

  • Download from Google Play
  • Download from App Store
  • Download from AppInChina

Researcher displays publicly available abstracts and doesn’t host any full article content. If the content is open access, we will direct clicks from the abstracts to the publisher website and display the PDF copy on our platform. Clicks to view the full text will be directed to the publisher website, where only users with subscriptions or access through their institution are able to view the full article.