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Validation of a care pathway for the use of faecal calprotectin in monitoring patients with Crohn's disease
  1. James Turvill,
  2. Lisa Rook,
  3. Maxine Rawle,
  4. Gerry Robins,
  5. Simon Smale,
  6. Prashant Kant,
  7. Anne Phillips
  1. Department of Gastroenterology, York Hospital, York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, York, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr James Turvill, Department of Gastroenterology, York Hospital, York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Wigginton Road, York YO31 8HE, UK; james.turvill{at}york.nhs.uk

Abstract

Introduction We have previously published an evidence-based care pathway for the use of faecal calprotectin (FC) to monitor patients with Crohn's disease established on therapy. Patients are treated as low, intermediate or high risk of continuing Crohn's disease activity based on their FC, whatever their phenotype and surgical status are. Low-risk patients (FC <100 µg/g) are offered 12 monthly follow-ups or step down of therapy if asymptomatic or initial expectant symptomatic treatment. Intermediate-risk patients (FC 100–250 µg/g) are reviewed at 6 months with a repeat FC. High-risk patients (two consecutive FCs >250 µg/g) are flagged up to the responsible clinician as likely having an active Crohn's disease.

Methods To validate this care pathway over a 2-year period, by determining its negative predictive value (NPV) and positive predictive value (PPV).

Results 123 patients were managed by means of the care pathway for a mean of 24.4 months. The NPV and PPV were 0.97 (CI 0.93 to 0.98) and 0.85 (CI 0.80 to 0.94), respectively (sensitivity: 0.92 (0.83 to 0.96) and specificity: 0.95 (0.92 to 0.98)). Importantly 69% of patients with FC >250 µg/g were in clinical remission, the care pathway identifying patients who would benefit from presymptomatic disease modification.

Conclusions This validation of a pragmatic clinical care pathway demonstrates a safe and effective mechanism by which to use FC to monitor risk of disease activity in patients with Crohn's disease established on therapy. It provides a framework for prioritising follow-up and for identifying patients at risk of continuing disease activity or those in whom therapy could be stepped down.

  • CROHN'S DISEASE
  • CLINICAL DECISION MAKING

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Footnotes

  • Contributors JT was responsible for the design and data analysis of this paper. All authors were responsible for the evaluation. LR and MR contributed to the design and JT, GR, SS, PK and AP contributed to the writing of this paper.

  • Competing interests None declared.

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