title: [Fecal calprotectin in the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel diseases].
abstract: The diagnosis of inflammatory bowel diseases has classically been based on assessment of digestive symptoms. The development of these symptoms usually results in colonoscopy, which has a low diagnostic yield. Likewise, there is an increasing tendency to base treatment of inflammatory bowel disease on objective data, since the disappearance of signs of activity on colonoscopy (called « mucosal cure ») has been associated with sustained clinical remission and reduced rates of hospitalization and surgery. Consequently, there is a need for biomarkers that would aid the selection of those patients who would derive most benefit from an endoscopic examination. One substance that has been proposed as a biomarker of bowel inflammation is fecal calprotectin. This substance allows inflammatory bowel disease to be distinguished from irritable bowel syndrome and shows a better correlation with the degree of inflammation than clinical indicators and serological markers. In addition, it could also be useful to predict mucosal cure and the risk of recurrence.
authors: Servicio de Gastroenterología, Hospital de Bellvitge, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, España. frmoranta@bellvitgehospital.cat
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Rodríguez-Moranta
authors: Triana
authors: T
authors: Lobatón
authors: Lorena
authors: L
authors: Rodríguez-Alonso
authors: Jordi
authors: J
authors: Guardiola
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex