Description
Calprotectin is a calcium-binding protein secreted predominantly by neutrophils and monocytes. Fecal calprotectin is a marker for neoplastic and inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases.
The calprotectin test allows for clear differentiation between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Elevated levels of calprotectin are a much better predictor of relapse than standard inflammatory markers such as CRP, ESR and HB. The parameter is of a high diagnostic value: if the calprotectin level in stool is low, the probability is high that no organic intestinal disease exists. Fecal calprotectin levels correlate significantly with histologic and endoscopic assessment of disease activity in Morbus Crohn‘s disease and ulcerative colitis, as well as with the faecal excretion of indium-111-labelled neutrophilic granulocytes.
