Barbara Lisowska-Myjak and Joanna ?yty?ska-Daniluk
Background: Measurement of faecal calprotectin (FCP) concentrations is a theoretically justified laboratory test used in lieu of quantitative evaluation of neutrophils penetrating into the intestinal lumen. This parameter is organspecific and identifies intestinal inflammation.
Aim: Search for individual interpretation of the cut-off values for the FCP test, taking into consideration different age groups of patients and causes of intestinal inflammation.
Methods: Review of the literature data about the calprotectin concentrations in the meconium and faeces of neonates, infants, older children and adults.
Results: FCP levels in meconium and faeces of infants are significantly higher than the concentration in older children and adults. In adults FCP is a simple and sensitive screening test for inflammatory bowel disease, also used in monitoring of disease activity and treatment efficacy. However, the diagnostic significance of high FCP levels in healthy infants and young children remains unclear.
Conclusions: FCP levels in the first year of life are higher than in adults and probably reflect ‘physiological’ intestinal inflammation associated with the adaptation of the neonate’s intestine to life outside the uterus. On the other hand, high CP levels in meconium may indicate the important role played by neutrophils in the fetal intestine during its development.
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