The Role of Fecal Calprotectin in Investigating Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis
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introduction: Fecal calprotectin (FCP) can be found in high concentrations in inflammatory bowel disease due to the increase in leucocyte turnover in intestinal wall or increase of migration of neutrophils into the lumen. In this study, we aimed to determine the FCP values of the ulcerative colitis (UC) patients at the time of diagnosis and to investigate the applicability and effectiveness of this non-invasive method in the diagnosis of the disease, routinely. Materials and Methods: A total of 19 patients with UC (10 females, 9 males, age: 11.5 +/- 3.5 years old) whoose stool samples collected during the diagnosis period and 20 healthy controls (10 female, 10 male, age: 10.3 +/- 4.5 years old) were included in the study. Stool samples were collected for FCP analysis by ELISA method at the time of diagnosis and before the treatment period. Results: FCP values of the UC group were statistically higher than the control group. FCP values of the UC and control groups were 398.4 mu g /gr stool (56.7-2450) and 19.4 mu g/gr stool (2-81), respectively (p<0.005). FCP values of the patient group with mild activity index (n=8), and moderate-severe activity index (n=11) according to the Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index were 267.6-mu g/gr stool, and 435.2 mu g/gr stool, respectively (r2: 0.40, p<0.05). There was not statistical difference between the FCP values of the patients with pancolitis (422.6 mu g/gr stool) and with left-sided colitis, proctitis/sigmoiditis (371.7 mu g/gr stool) (p>0.05). High CRP values (89.4%), elevation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (84.2%), leukocytosis (73.6%), thrombocytosis (68.4%), anemia (89.4%), and hypoalbuminemia (52.6%) were found. Conclusions: FCP values of the UC patients were found to be statistically higher than the control group, and increase in FCP values has been observed with increasing disease activity. Therefore, we believe that the determination of FCP could be useful at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up of the patients with UC.