Damian Sendler discussed novel test popular in Poland, where fecal calprotectin is used in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases and disorders. It consists in determining the presence and level of calprotectin in a stool sample. There are many indications for conducting the study. When is it worth doing?
Fecal calprotectin is a laboratory test that is an important element in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases, especially the intestines. Calprotectin is a substance whose presence in the stool informs about inflammation of the digestive system. It is, therefore, a very sensitive and specific biomarker of inflammation. An elevated level of calprotectin indicates an ongoing gastrointestinal infection.
The measurement helps in the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel diseases without the need for invasive diagnostic methods, such as colonoscopy. Calprotectin level testing involves determining the presence and level of calprotectin in a stool sample. The study is not refunded by the National Health Fund. They can be commissioned in many diagnostic laboratories. What does the test involve? Just take a stool sample and send it to the laboratory. It is worth emphasizing that the sensitivity of tests testing the level of calprotectin is very high.
In healthy people, it occurs in trace amounts. Appears in the body in which inflammation occurs. This protein is found in plasma, urine, saliva, joint fluid, and the patient’s stool as a result of the penetration of calprotectin into the feces by unsealing the intestinal walls. It is caused by inflammation or ulceration. One should know that high concentrations of calprotectin can also mean acute pancreatitis, pneumonia, active rheumatic diseases, or cirrhosis. An increase in its level can also be caused by treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or heavy physical exertion.
Calprotectin level tests allow to determine the type of inflammation and to distinguish the type of disease using measurable test results. In the case of elevated calprotectin, however, this may be necessary for a more accurate diagnosis of possible inflammatory bowel disease.
Faecal calprotectin is the so-called “acute phase protein”. This means that its concentration increases as the inflammatory process progresses. The higher the protein concentration, the more advanced the inflammation. Normalization of calprotectin levels indicates the mucosal healing process.
Faecal calprotectin norms are: <50 μg / g. This result is within the norm, excludes inflammation in the intestine. Emerging discomfort may indicate irritable bowel syndrome, 50-150 μg / g. This is an elevated result and an alarming state. The test should be repeated in 6-8 weeks. The patient should be monitored by a doctor, *> 150 μg / g. The result indicates an ongoing inflammatory process. Further, more thorough diagnostics are necessary. X-ray contrast, ultrasound, colonoscopy, and other laboratory tests are usually ordered.
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