NONINVASIVE DIAGNOSIS OF ULCERATIVE COLITIS ON THE BASIS OF FECAL LACTOFERRIN AND IMMUNOCHEMICAL HEMOCCULT TEST

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the possibility of diagnosing ulcerative colitis on the basis of complex comparative analysis of diagnostic significance of clinical signs of the disease which are symptoms of anxiety, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, immunochemical hemoccult test and fecal lactoferrin. 52 patients with ulcerative colitis, 46 patients with irritable bowel syndrome and 25 healthy volunteers were examined. The level of lactoferrin was detected in samples of feces taken from one defecation act by immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using kits ELISA TEST KIT Hycult Biotechnology (Netherlands). The concentration of the marker at the level of 15,25 mg / g was defined as a separation point. The presence of hemoglobin in feces was detected using immunochemical hemoccult test with sets of the firm «Biotech Atlantic, Inc.» (U.S.). The erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein were determined by means of conventional methods. The fecal lactoferrin (0,895 ± 0,0315) and immunochemical hemoccult test (0,825 ± 0,0397) showed the highest diagnostic significance in the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. They are ahead of traditional laboratory markers: ESR (p < 0,0001) and p = 0,0075, respectively) and CRP ((p = 0,0004 and p = 0,0083, respectively). The sensitivity of fecal lactoferrin made up 80,77 % (95 % CI: 67,50-90,40), specificity - 90,14 % (95 % CI: 80,70-95,90), immunochemical hemoccult test - 69,23 % (95 % CI: 54,90-81,30) and 95,77 % (95 % CI: 88,10-99,10), respectively. Consequently, the fecal lactoferrin and immunochemical hemoccult test were sensitive and specific markers in the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis.