P232 Evaluation of the use of fecal calprotectin as a diagnostic aid for IBD in an Irish population

Abstract

Background: Serological Inflammatory markers can be used for assisting in the diagnoses of inflammatory bowel disease but are neither particularly sensitive nor specific. Aim of this study is to investigate the role of fecal Calprotectin in the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease along with the serological markers ESR, CRP and endoscopic and radiological means. Methods: Retrospective data of Fecal Calprotectin was collected from the online portal of Kings College Pathology Laboratory London, along with blood and colonoscopy reports from the iLab and Unisoft software of the Mid Western Regional Hospital Limerick respectively over period of 18 months. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi square and Student’s T test on SPSS. A P-value of 0.05 was taken as significant. Results: In the 18 months 97 patients had their faecal Calprotectin checked. Fifty-two (53.6%) of them subsequently had the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease made on the basis of colonoscopy, CT scan abdomen or small bowel follow through. We divided patients into 2 groups on the basis of faecal Calprotectin values. Patients in group 1 faecal Calprotectin values less than 60 (n = 27) group 2 had values above 60 to 2009 (70). Of those with normal faecal Calprotectin 21 did not have a diagnosis of IBD, whilst 6 had, of those with elevated faecal Calprotectin 23 did not have a diagnosis of IBD, whilst 47 did (Chi square test, p = 0.001). Six (22%) of group 1 had colitis while nineteen (27%) of group 2 were normal. Mean ESR in group 1 was 11.38 VS 17.65 in group 2 (P= 0.159 Student T Test) while mean CRP in group 1 was 10.6 VS 6.4 in group 2 (P= 0.226 Student T test). Those patients with subsequent diagnosis of IBD (52) had a mean faecal Calprotectin of 335.89 VS non IBD patients (45) mean faecal Calprotectin value was 138 (P= 0.0059 Student T test). Conclusions: This study shows that the use of faecal Calprotectin is a reliable indicator of IBD in the Irish population studied. It also shows that ESR and CRP levels do not correlate with or assist in the diagnosis of IBD in this population.