title: Fecal lactoferrin is a sensitive and specific marker in identifying intestinal inflammation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lactoferrin is a glycoprotein expressed by activated neutrophils. The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of fecal lactoferrin concentrations for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) versus healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fresh stool samples were collected from outpatients with ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn's disease (CD), or IBS. Clinical disease activity for IBD was assessed using a modified Harvey-Bradshaw Activity Index. Fecal lactoferrin concentrations were determined using a polyclonal antibody-based enzyme linked immunoassay. Mean fecal lactoferrin concentrations for each group and sensitivity and specificity of the assay were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred-four CD patients, 80 UC patients, 31 IBS patients, and 56 healthy controls were recruited. The mean +/- SE fecal lactoferrin concentration (microg/g fecal weight) was 440 +/- 128 for CD patients, 1125 +/- 498 for UC patients, 1.27 +/- 0.29 for IBS patients, and 1.45 +/- 0.4 for healthy controls. Fecal lactoferrin was 90% specific for identifying inflammation in patients with active IBD. Elevated fecal lactoferrin was 100% specific in ruling out IBS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fecal lactoferrin is sensitive and specific for detecting inflammation in chronic IBD. This noninvasive test may prove useful in screening for inflammation in patients presenting with abdominal pain and diarrhea.
authors.affiliation: University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Sunanda V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Sandborn
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Rufo
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zholudev
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boone
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lyerly
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camilleri
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Hanauer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D003109:Colonic Diseases, Functional / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007781:Lactoferrin