Fecal Calprotectin - Can Differentiate IBD from IBS?

There are many common features between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Clinical assessment, laboratory tests, endoscopy and various imaging modalities has been the main methods for diagnosis for many years. Accurate diagnosis is established by colonoscopy, but the method is invasive and expensive. Laboratory markers have low sensitivity and specificity. The presence of inflammation in the colon can be detected by fecal markers, especially by fecal calprotectin. The aim of the study was to analyze the role of fecal calprotectin in differentiating beetween IBD and IBS. Material and methods. We conducted a prospective study that include 2 groups: 58 patients with IBD and 46 patients with IBS. For all the patients we analiyzed the biological profile and the values of faecal calprotectin - by semiquantitative immunochromatographic rapid test. Results. 1. There was significant differeces of the values of albumin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and fecal calprotectin between the two groups studied. 2. The sensitivity and specificity of studied markers for IBD are the following: albumin 53.38% and 50.56%; ESR 55.17% and 54.42%; PCR 74.27% and 63.67%, faecal calprotectin 86,54% and 95.8%. Conclusions. Fecal calprotectin proved a good diagnostic power for differential diagnosis between IBS and IBD.