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The following is a summary of “Fecal Calprotectin as a Biomarker for Disease Activity in Microscopic Colitis,” published in the November 2024 issue of Gastroenterology by Sasson et al.  

Microscopic colitis (MC) is an inflammatory disorder affecting the intestines. A biomarker to assess disease activity in MC has yet to be thoroughly examined.  

Researchers conducted a prospective study evaluating the role of fecal calprotectin (FC) in assessing disease activity in symptomatic MC.  

They included patients with confirmed MC with an FC level measured during symptoms. The frequency of elevated FC levels was examined in symptomatic cases, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine separate predictors of elevated FC.  

The results showed that 68 of 234 FC measurements (29.0%) were above 150 mcg/g, with 43 measurements (18.4%) exceeding 250 mcg/g. Patients with elevated FC levels (>150 mcg/g) were older (61.5 vs. 54.7 years, P=0.011). More patients with elevated FC had nocturnal bowel movements (41.2% vs. 24.1%, P=0.009) and fecal incontinence (25.0% vs. 13.3%, P=0.029) compared to those with normal FC levels. Multivariate analysis confirmed these associations, with no significant difference in FC levels between patients who responded or did not respond to steroids (138 mcg/g vs. 249 mcg/g, P=0.45).  

They concluded that elevated FC levels were associated with more severe symptoms in symptomatic MC, but they did not predict treatment response.  

Source: journals.lww.com/jcge/abstract/9900/fecal_calprotectin_as_a_biomarker_for_disease.386.aspx