Fecal Calprotectin to Screen for IBD?

Abstract

Van de Vijver E, Schreuder AB, Cnossen WR, et al. Safely ruling out inflammatory bowel disease in children and teenagers without referral for endoscopy. Arch Dis Child. 2012; 97 (12): 1014– 1018; doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2011-301206[OpenUrl][1][Abstract/FREE Full Text][2] Researchers in Belgium and the Netherlands conducted a diagnostic accuracy study to determine if the use of fecal calprotectin as a screening test for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) could reduce the number of children undergoing endoscopy. Participants included children and teens 6 to 18 years of age with abdominal complaints suggesting IBD who were evaluated in pediatric clinics of 6 general hospitals and 1 tertiary care hospital in northern Holland. Inclusion criteria included persistent diarrhea for >4 weeks or recurrent (>2 episodes in 6 months) abdominal pain and diarrhea, and at least 1 of the following: rectal bleeding, unintended weight loss, linear growth retardation, perianal symptoms (skin tag, fistula, fissure, or abscess), anemia, other extraintestinal manifestations (erythema nodosum, arthritis, uveitis), or increased inflammatory markers (ESR or CRP). At entry, a stool sample was … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DArch%2BDis%2BChild%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1136%252Farchdischild-2011-301206%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F23019289%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=archdischild&resid=97/12/1014&atom=%2Faapgrand%2F29%2F4%2F38.atom