P0663 THE EVALUATION OF FAECAL CALPROTECTIN AND LACTOFERRIN LEVELS IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF CHILDREN WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE

Abstract

Introduction: The management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is hampered by the lack of a reliable, non-invasive index of bowel inflammation. Faecal calprotectin and lactoferrin have been suggested as useful markers. The aim of our study was to assess the value of faecal calprotectin and lactoferrin as discriminators of active IBD. Methods: Stool samples were collected from 3 groups of children - A. active IBD (n = 46), B. children with other gastrointestinal diseases (n = 17) and C. controls with no gastrointestinal diseases (n = 19). Faecal calprotectin and lactoferrin was measured using an ELISA method. Results: Median calprotectin levels were: A. 247 microgram/gram (100–2251), B. 71 (3–1752) and C. 37 (4–304). Median lactoferrin levels in 15 patients were A. 33.1 (0.5–100.2), B. 2.8 (0.1–49.8) and C. 0.7 (0–15.9). Conclusion: Our results confirm that faecal calprotectin can be a useful non-invasive measure of active IBD but faecal lactoferrin may prove even more discriminating.