title: Fecal calprotectin as a non-invasive biomarker for intestinal involvement of Behçet's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The diagnostic and prognostic values of fecal calprotectin (FC) levels in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases have been proven. However, little is known about the usefulness of FC measurement in predicting intestinal involvement of Behçet's disease (BD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four consecutive patients with systemic BD who underwent colonoscopy for the evaluation of gastrointestinal symptoms were prospectively enrolled between November 2012 and March 2014 in a single tertiary medical center. Fecal specimens from the patients were obtained the day before bowel cleansing and 3 months after colonoscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five patients showed intestinal ulcerations on colonoscopy (12 [48.0%] typical and 13 [52.0%] atypical ulcerations). The median FC level in the intestinal BD group was significantly higher than that in the non-diagnostic group (112.53 [6.86-1604.39] vs 31.64 [5.46-347.60] µg/g, respectively, P = 0.003). Moreover, the typical ulceration group showed a significantly higher median FC level than the atypical ulceration group in patients with intestinal BD (435.995 [75.65-1604.39] vs 71.42 [6.86-476.94] µg/g, respectively, P = 0.033). Multivariate analysis revealed higher FC as an independent predictor of intestinal BD (OR = 38.776; 95% CI = 2.306-652.021; P = 0.011). The cut-off level of FC for predicting intestinal BD was 68.89 µg/g (76% sensitivity and 79% specificity). The absolute changes between fecal calprotectin levels and the disease activity index of intestinal BD from initial diagnosis of intestinal BD to 3 months after diagnosis were significantly correlated (Pearson's correlation coefficient = 0.470, P = 0.027).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The FC level might serve as a non-invasive surrogate marker of intestinal involvement of BD.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Digestive disease center, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea.
authors: Duk Hwan
authors: DH
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Yehyun
authors: Y
authors: Park
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Bun
authors: B
authors: Kim
authors: Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Seung Won
authors: SW
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Soo Jung
authors: SJ
authors: Park
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Sung Pil
authors: SP
authors: Hong
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Tae Il
authors: TI
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Won Ho
authors: WH
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jae Hee
authors: JH
authors: Cheon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014456:Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex
keywords: colonoscopy; fecal calprotectin; intestinal Behçet's disease