title: Fecal calprotectin (FC) in newborns: is it a predictive marker of gastrointestinal and/or allergic disease?
abstract: Fecal calprotectin seems to provide a safe and non-invasive means of helping differentiate between patients with organic and non-organic intestinal disease. Aim of our study was to evaluate if FC levels at birth and at first month of age can be a predictive biomarker of organic or functional gastrointestinal disease (FGIDs) and/or allergic disease diagnosed in 2 years old children. Between December 2007 and January 2008 a telephonic interview has been proposed to the parents of 109 consecutive healthy children, in which FC was measured at birth two years before. For our study, a modified version of the original paediatric questionnaire on paediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders (QPGS) was used for the interview. Specific questions were added to detect allergic diseases. We didâ€™nt find any statistically significant result between FC measured at birth and during first month of life in children with allergy or not. The interference of familiarity does not lead to a statistically significant change in the fecal calprotectin values during the first month of life.
authors.affiliation: DiGON, Section of Neonatology and UTIN, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. baldassarre@bioetaev.uniba.it
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Baldassarre
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fanelli
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lasorella
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laneve
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grosso
authors.forename: Maria R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Falcone
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Laforgia
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex