| |||
Calprotectin Levels (calprotectin + level)
Selected AbstractsUlcerative colitis: Correlation of the Rachmilewitz endoscopic activity index with fecal calprotectin, clinical activity, C-reactive protein, and blood leukocytesINFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES, Issue 12 2009Alain M. Schoepfer MD Abstract Background: The accuracy of noninvasive markers for the detection of endoscopically active ulcerative colitis (UC) according the Rachmilewitz Score is so far unknown. The aim was to evaluate the correlation between endoscopic disease activity and fecal calprotectin, Clinical Activity Index, C-reactive protein (CRP), and blood leukocytes. Methods: UC patients undergoing colonoscopy were prospectively enrolled and scored independently according the endoscopic and clinical part of the Rachmilewitz Index. Patients and controls provided fecal and blood samples for measuring calprotectin, CRP, and leukocytes. Results: Values in UC patients (n = 134) compared to controls (n = 48): calprotectin: 396 ± 351 versus 18.1 ± 5 ,g/g, CRP 16 ± 13 versus 3 ± 2 mg/L, blood leukocytes 9.9 ± 3.5 versus 5.4 ± 1.9 g/L (all P < 0.001). Endoscopic disease activity correlated closest with calprotectin (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient r = 0.834), followed by Clinical Activity Index (r = 0.672), CRP (r = 0.503), and leukocytes (r = 0.461). Calprotectin levels were significantly lower in UC patients with inactive disease (endoscopic score 0,3, calprotectin 42 ± 38 ,g/g), compared to patients with mild (score 4,6, calprotectin 210 ± 121 ,g/g, P < 0.001), moderate (score 7,9, calprotectin 392 ± 246 ,g/g, P = 0.002), and severe disease (score 10,12, calprotectin 730 ± 291 ,g/g, P < 0.001). The overall accuracy for the detection of endoscopically active disease (score ,4) was 89% for calprotectin, 73% for Clinical Activity Index, 62% for elevated CRP, and 60% for leukocytosis. Conclusions: Fecal calprotectin correlated closest with endoscopic disease activity, followed by Clinical Activity Index, CRP, and blood leukocytes. Furthermore, fecal calprotectin was the only marker that reliably discriminated inactive from mild, moderate, and highly active disease, which emphasizes its usefulness for activity monitoring. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2009 [source] Calprotectin levels in meconiumACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 4 2003N Laforgia Aim: To evaluate the effect of gender, gestational age, birthweight, mode of delivery, 5,-Apgar score and maternal conditions on calprotectin concentrations in meconium. Methods: Calprotectin was measured in 131 neonates, in the first passed meconium. Results: Calprotectin levels (mean ± SD) resulted in 145.2 ± 78.5 mg kg,1 meconium, significantly correlated with birthweight (r=,0.333; p < 0.001), gestational age (r =,0.206; p = 0.018) and 5,-Apgar score (r= -0.243, p= 0.035). The estimated regression model was: calprotectin levels (mg kg,1) = 269.58,41.54 weight (kg); r = 0.383, p < 0.001. No differences were found in relation to gender, mode of delivery and maternal conditions. Conclusion: Calprotectin is already present in the first passed meconium, with higher levels in preterm and low birthweight neonates, as well as in neonates with some degree of perinatal asphyxia, as indicated by the negative correlation with 5,-Apgar score. These findings are probably secondary to both the immaturity of the intestinal mucosa and its hypoxic-ischaemic damage. [source] |