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Education
Review
Practical guidance on the use of faecal calprotectin
  1. Matthew J Brookes1,
  2. Simon Whitehead2,
  3. Daniel R Gaya3,
  4. Antony Barney Hawthorne4
  1. 1Gastroenterology Department, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, UK
  2. 2Department of Clinical Chemistry, Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, UK
  3. 3Department of Gastroenterology, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK
  4. 4Department of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
  1. Correspondence to Professor Matthew J Brookes, Gastroenterology Department, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Wednesfield Road, Wolverhampton WV10OQP, UK; m.j.brookes{at}bham.ac.uk

Abstract

Differentiation between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and functional gut disorders, and the determination of mucosal disease activity in established cases of IBD remain the cornerstones of disease diagnosis and management. Non-invasive, accurate biomarkers of gut inflammation are needed due to the variability of symptoms, the inaccuracies of currently available blood markers and the cost and invasive nature of endoscopy. Numerous biomarkers have been used and/or considered with some in current use. This article reviews the current evidence base around the indications for using biomarkers and their limitations, with a particular focus on faecal calprotectin.

  • CROHN'S DISEASE
  • ULCERATIVE COLITIS
  • IBD
  • STOOL MARKERS

https://doi.org/10.1136/flgastro-2016-100762

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors SJW and MJB performed the literature searches to prepare this manuscript. They prepared the initial document, which was extensively edited by DRG and ABH. The document has also been reviewed by the IBD section committee and we thank the committee for their insightful and helpful comments on this manuscript.

    • Competing interests MJB has received honoraria for advisory board membership to Shield Pharma and Vifor Pharma. He has received grant support from Vifor Pharma. He has been supported for conference expenses by MSD, Vifor, AbbVie, Warner Chilcott and Allergan. None of these was directly related to the preparation of this work. DRG is funded by a Senior NRS Fellowship Award.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.