title: Role of fecal calprotectin in gastrointestinal disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fecal calprotectin (FC) has been proposed as a useful and non-invasive marker of acute intestinal inflammation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We summarize recent evidences on FC, providing practical perspectives on its diagnostic and prognostic role in different gastrointestinal conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a MEDLINE search for all articles published on FC in human gastroenterology field up to December 2011. We chose evidences from well-designed and controlled studies when available. A meta-analysis was not performed because of the heterogeneity of these studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of relevant data derived from studies on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). FC concentrations (FCCs) showed a good diagnostic precision for separating organic and functional intestinal diseases and well correlated with IBD activity. FCCs were higher in subjects with NSAID enteropathy, but the actual correlation between FC and endoscopy is under investigation. FCCs can not be recommended for colorectal neoplasia population screening purpose. Few and heterogeneous studies have been performed in order to evaluate role of FC in other gastrointestinal conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FC has been widely proposed as a filter to avoid unnecessary endoscopies. Nevertheless, it should not be considered as a marker of organic intestinal disease at all; rather it represents a marker of "neutrophilic intestinal inflammation". In IBD, more and larger studies are needed to confirm FC's capacity to correlate with IBD extent, to predict response to therapy and relapse, and the presence of a subclinical intestinal inflammation in asymptomatic first-degree relatives of patients. For NSAID enteropathy, the actual correlation between FC and endoscopic results needs further confirmation. Finally, as regarding other gastrointestinal conditions, available data are still insufficient to draw any final conclusion and further studies should be encouraged.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. mmontalto@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montalto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'Onofrio
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Landolfi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasbarrini
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex