Fecal calprotectin – a valuable predictor of microscopic colitis

M.V. Ardelean, N.R. Kundnani, A. Sharma, M. Dumitru, R. Buzas, C.I. Rosca, D. Dahdal, N. Ottman, O.F. Ardelean, D.-S. Daniel-Marius, M.I. Stelian, D. Lighezan

Department of Internal Medicine I – Medical Semiology I, Advanced Research Center for Cardiovascular Pathology and Haemostaseology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania. daniel.duda-seiman@umft.ro

---

• Gastroenterology

OBJECTIVE: Microscopic colitis (MC) has been of major concern worldwide due to its relapsing and remitting nature of chronic diarrhea. Quality of life of patients suffering from this disease is quite debilitating.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: In order to understand the role and importance of fecal calprotectin (FC) we performed a statistical analysis on the patients suffering from chronic diarrhea and admitted to our hospital from 2014 to 2020, and who were prescribed Loperamide (Imodium) or Budesonide or a combination of both and had undergone FC detection test.

RESULTS: FC was found to be significantly correlated to the age, alcohol consumption and beta blocker use. A high level of the FC concentrations increases the chances of having flare-ups of diarrhea episodes making the quality of life of such patients worse.

CONCLUSIONS: FC concentrations should be monitored frequently and precautionary measures to avoid a relapse should be aimed. Measures to improve quality of life, should be of prime concern. In-depth research is required to better understand MC and to find better treatment options which can be used on a long-term basis, instead of anti-motility drugs which are able to control the acute episodes, but when discontinued result in an increased tendency to have relapses.

Free PDF Download