title: Fecal calprotectin in predicting relapse of inflammatory bowel diseases: a meta-analysis of prospective studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fecal calprotectin (FC) is a relatively new marker of intestinal inflammation. Recently, many studies have extended its role in predicting relapse of quiescent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but the reported results have been inconsistent. We aimed to perform a meta-analysis of the predictive capacity of FC in IBD relapse.
  
  
  METHODS
  We systematically searched the Medline, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases for prospective studies that used FC concentrations at remission in predicting relapse of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Pooled sensitivity, specificity, and other diagnostic indices were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 672 IBD patients (318 UC and 354 CD) from six different studies were analyzed. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of FC to predict relapse of quiescent IBD was 78% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 72-83) and 73% (95% CI: 68-77), respectively. The area under the summary receiver-operating characteristic (sROC) curve was 0.83 and the diagnostic odds ratio was 10.31 (95% CI: 5.05-21.06). The capacity of FC to predict relapse was comparable between UC and CD. In CD patients the predictive value of FC in isolated small bowel CD was not assessed due to insufficiency of available data. Compared with all enrolled CD patients, FC appeared to be more accurate in ileocolonic and colonic CD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a simple and noninvasive marker, FC is useful to predict relapse in quiescent IBD patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ren
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Ying-lian
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Bai-li
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Pin-jin
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Min-hu
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention
chemical_list: D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex