title: Usefulness of a rapid faecal calprotectin test to predict relapse in Crohn's disease patients on maintenance treatment with adalimumab.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Predicting relapse in Crohn's disease (CD) patients by measuring non-invasive biomarkers could allow for early changes of treatment. Data are scarce regarding the utility of monitoring calprotectin to predict relapse. The aim of the study was to evaluate the predictive value of a rapid test of faecal calprotectin (FC) to predict for flares in CD patients on maintenance treatment with adalimumab (ADA).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, observational cohort study was designed. Inclusion criteria were CD patients in clinical remission on a standard dose of ADA therapy. Fresh FC was measured using a rapid test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty patients were included (median age 38 years, 56.7% female). After the 4 months follow-up, 70.0% patients remained in clinical remission and 30.0% had a relapse. FC concentration at inclusion was significantly higher in those patients who relapsed during the follow-up (625 μg/g) compared to those who stayed in remission (45 μg/g). The optimal cut-off for FC to predict relapse was 204 μg/g. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve was 0.968. Sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive value of FC to predict relapse were 100%, 85.7%, 74.1%, and 100%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In CD patients on ADA maintenance therapy, FC levels measured with a rapid test allow relapse over the following months to be predicted with high accuracy. Low FC levels exclude relapse within at least 4 months after testing, whereas high levels are associated with relapse in three out of every four patients.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology , Hospital Clinico Universitario De Santiago De Compostela , Santiago de Compostela , Spain.
authors.forename: Rocio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferreiro-Iglesias
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology , Hospital Clinico Universitario De Santiago De Compostela , Santiago de Compostela , Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barreiro-de Acosta
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology , Hospital Clinico Universitario De Santiago De Compostela , Santiago de Compostela , Spain.
authors.forename: Aurelio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lorenzo-Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: a Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology , Hospital Clinico Universitario De Santiago De Compostela , Santiago de Compostela , Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Enrique
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dominguez-Muñoz
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D060046:Maintenance Chemotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; D000068879:Adalimumab
keywords: Adalimumab; Crohn’s disease; calprotectin; inflammatory bowel disease