title: [Clinical significance of faecal calprotectin levels in patients with ulcerative colitis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the clinical significance of faecal calprotectin levels (a neutrophil protein) in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).
  
  
  METHODS
  25 patients with UC provided stool samples for calprotectin assay and the amount of calprotectin was related to UC disease activity index in each patient. Of 25 patients 4 with prednisolone refractory UC received 10 granulocyte and monocyte adsorption apheresis (GMCAP) sessions of 60 minutes duration, flow rate 30 mL per minute for 10 consecutive weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Calprotectin level in consecutive faecal samples from three patients was stable. However, increased calprotectin levels were significantly (p < 0.005) associated with Matts's endoscopic index, reflecting the level of colorectal inflammation. The 4 patients who received GMCAP therapy had a clinical activity index < 2 at week 7, the calprotectin level declined with improving Matts' index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Assay of faecal calprotectin holds promise as a sensitive biomarker to identify colorectal inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endoscopic and Photodynamic Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hanai
authors.forename: Koutarou
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tozawa
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanaoka
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.forename: Kennichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Teruhiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Yoshisuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hosoda
authors.forename: Naohito
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shirai
authors.forename: Kouki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirasawa
authors.forename: Kennichirou
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahira
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kataoka
authors.forename: Munetaka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Osawa
authors.forename: Shigemitsu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex