Anders Lasson1, Hans Strid2, Lena Ohman3, Stefan Isaksson4, Mikael Olsson5, Britt Rydström6, Kjell-Arne Ung7, Per-Ove Stotzer8. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Södra Älvsborgs Hospital, Borås, Sweden. Electronic address: anders.lasson@vgregion.se. 2. Department of Internal Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Electronic address: hans.strid@vgregion.se. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Electronic address: lena.ohman@microbio.gu.se. 4. Department of Internal Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Electronic address: stefan.isaksson@microbio.gu.se. 5. Department of Internal Medicine, Norra Älvsborgs Hospital, Trollhättan, Sweden. Electronic address: mikael.pe.olsson@vgregion.se. 6. Department of Internal Medicine, Södra Älvsborgs Hospital, Borås, Sweden. Electronic address: britt.rydstrom@vgregion.se. 7. Department of Internal Medicine, Skaraborgs Hospital, Skövde, Sweden. Electronic address: kjell-arne.ung@vgregion.se. 8. Department of Internal Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Electronic address: per-ove.stotzer@vgregion.se.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Ileocaecal resection for Crohn's disease is commonly performed. The severity of endoscopic lesions in the anastomotic area one year postoperatively is considered to reflect the subsequent clinical course. Fecal calprotectin (FC) has been shown to correlate with the findings at ileocolonoscopy in Crohn's disease. The objectives of this study were to assess whether the concentration of FC reflects the endoscopic findings one year after ileocaecal resection and to evaluate the variation of FC in individual patients during 6months prior to the ileocolonoscopy. METHODS: Thirty patients with Crohn's disease and ileocaecal resection performed within one year were included. Stool samples were delivered monthly until an ileocolonoscopy was performed one year postoperatively. RESULTS: One year after surgery the median values of FC were not significantly different between the patients in endoscopic remission (n=17) and the patients with an endoscopic recurrence (189 (75-364) vs 227 (120-1066)μg/g; p=0.25). However, most patients with low values were in remission and all patients with high (>600μg/g) calprotectin values had recurrent disease. The variability of the FC concentration was most pronounced in patients with diarrhea. CONCLUSIONS: We found no statistical difference in the concentrations of calprotectin between patients in endoscopic remission and patients with a recurrent disease one year after ileocaecal resection for Crohn's disease. However, among the minority of patients with low or high values, FC indicated remission and recurrence, respectively. There was significant variation of the fecal calprotectin concentrations over time, which affects the utility of calprotectin in clinical practice.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Ileocaecal resection for Crohn's disease is commonly performed. The severity of endoscopic lesions in the anastomotic area one year postoperatively is considered to reflect the subsequent clinical course. Fecal calprotectin (FC) has been shown to correlate with the findings at ileocolonoscopy in Crohn's disease. The objectives of this study were to assess whether the concentration of FC reflects the endoscopic findings one year after ileocaecal resection and to evaluate the variation of FC in individual patients during 6months prior to the ileocolonoscopy. METHODS: Thirty patients with Crohn's disease and ileocaecal resection performed within one year were included. Stool samples were delivered monthly until an ileocolonoscopy was performed one year postoperatively. RESULTS: One year after surgery the median values of FC were not significantly different between the patients in endoscopic remission (n=17) and the patients with an endoscopic recurrence (189 (75-364) vs 227 (120-1066)μg/g; p=0.25). However, most patients with low values were in remission and all patients with high (>600μg/g) calprotectin values had recurrent disease. The variability of the FC concentration was most pronounced in patients with diarrhea. CONCLUSIONS: We found no statistical difference in the concentrations of calprotectin between patients in endoscopic remission and patients with a recurrent disease one year after ileocaecal resection for Crohn's disease. However, among the minority of patients with low or high values, FC indicated remission and recurrence, respectively. There was significant variation of the fecal calprotectin concentrations over time, which affects the utility of calprotectin in clinical practice.