Fecal calprotectin levels in patients with colonic polyposis.
BACKGROUND
The usefulness of stool calprotectin determination in diagnosis of inflammatory disease of the colon has been reported; information about its usefulness for patients with polyposis are scarce, however.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the significance of stool calprotectin concentrations for patients affected by colonic polyposis.


METHODS
Sixty-three consecutive patients (35 males, 28 females, mean age 60.3 years, range 39-78 years) were enrolled: 26 patients (41.3%) with polyps, 17 patients (27.0%) with asymptomatic diverticular disease, and 20 subjects (31.7%) with normal endoscopic appearance of the colon.


RESULTS
Stool calprotectin concentrations were 17.4 +/- 24.5 microg g(-1) for patients with colonic polyposis, significantly higher than concentrations for patients with diverticulosis (7.1 +/- 5.7 microg g(-1); P = 0.026) or for patients with normal appearance of the colon (calprotectin 6.0 +/- 5.8 microg g(-1); P = 0.003). For patients with a single polyp, stool calprotectin concentrations were similar to those for patients with multiple polyps. Calprotectin fecal concentrations for patients with sessile polyps and those with flat polyps were not significantly different. Calprotectin concentrations were not significantly related to the size of the polyps.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data show that colonic polyposis may cause an increase in stool calprotectin values and that these colonic lesions should be suspected when elevated stool calprotectin concentrations are found.
Pezzilli
Raffaele
R
Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti, 9, Bologna, Italy. pezzilli@aosp.bo.it
Barassi
Alessandra
A
Morselli Labate
Antonio M
AM
Finazzi
Sergio
S
Fantini
Lorenzo
L
Gizzi
Giuseppe
G
Lotzniker
Milvia
M
Villani
Valeria
V
Melzi d'Eril
Gianvico
G
Corinaldesi
Roberto
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003113:Colonoscopy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004241:Diverticulum, Colon / Q000175:diagnosis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D015415:Biomarkers; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex