title: Evaluation of point-of-care test calprotectin and lactoferrin for inflammatory bowel disease among children with chronic gastrointestinal symptoms.
abstract: Faecal calprotectin is considered to be a valid test for ruling out inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children with chronic gastrointestinal symptoms in specialist care. In contrast, faecal lactoferrin has higher specificity. The recent availability of both as point-of-care tests (POCTs) makes them attractive for use in primary care.
  
  
  
  To evaluate the test characteristics of calprotectin and lactoferrin POCTs for diagnosing IBD in symptomatic children.
  
  
  
  We defined two prospective cohorts of children with chronic gastrointestinal symptoms: (i) children presenting to primary care (primary care cohort); (ii) children referred for specialist care (referred cohort). Baseline POCT results were compared with the outcome of either endoscopic assessment or 12 months follow-up. Clinicians were blinded to the POCT results.
  
  
  
  In the primary care cohort, none of the 114 children had IBD, and the calprotectin and lactoferrin POCTs had specificities of 0.95 (0.89-0.98) and 0.98 (0.93-0.99), respectively. In the referred cohort, 17 of the 90 children had IBD: the sensitivity of POCT calprotectin and POCT lactoferrin were both 0.94 (0.72-0.99); and the specificity was 0.93 (0.84-0.97) and 0.99 (0.92-1.00), respectively. The POCT calprotectin could reduce the referral rate by 76% and POCT lactoferrin by 81%, while missing one child with IBD (6%).
  
  
  
  A diagnostic test strategy in primary care using a simple POCT calprotectin or lactoferrin has the potential to reduce the need for referral for further diagnostic work-up in specialist care, with a low risk of missing a child with IBD.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, PO Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Gea A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Holtman
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, PO Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lisman-van Leeuwen
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, PO Box 30001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Patrick F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: van Rheenen
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, PO Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Boudewijn J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kollen
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, PO Box 2060, 3000 CB Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Johanna C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Escher
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Emma Children's Hospital/Academic Medical Center, PO Box 22700, 1100 DE Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kindermann
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Yolanda B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: de Rijke
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, PO Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marjolein Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005243:Feces; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000032:analysis*; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; D007781:Lactoferrin
keywords: Calprotectin; inflammatory bowel disease; lactoferrin; paediatrics; point-of-care test; primary care