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Validation and clinical significance of a new calprotectin rapid test for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases

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Abstract

Aims

Objective of this study was to compare the assay characteristics of a new fecal calprotectin rapid test with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The second aim was to assess the potential of measuring fecal calprotectin as screening method for intestinal inflammation and colorectal malignancies.

Patients and methods

One hundred forty patients with lower gastrointestinal symptoms referred to colonoscopy provided fecal samples (56, control group; 18, diverticulosis; 29, colorectal adenoma; 8, colorectal carcinoma (CRC); 18, active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); 11, intestinal infections). Feces were analyzed by two assay methods.

Results

Compared to the control group (median 25.8 µg/g), calprotectin levels were significantly increased in adenoma (66.3 µg/g), CRC (164 µg/g), intestinal infections (306 µg/g), and active IBD (797 µg/g). An adequate diagnostic accuracy could be found for active IBD with a sensitivity, specificity, and an area under the curve (AUC) of 100%, 79%, and 0.955 (ELISA) vs. 89%, 80%, and 0.896 (rapid test). Similar results were obtained for CRC (100%, 79%, 0.922 vs. 100%, 80%, 0.948) whereas in adenomas a low sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of 55%, 79%, and 0.686 vs. 52%, 80%, and 0.666 were found for fecal calprotectin.

Conclusions

Both fecal calprotectin assays are effective in identifying active IBD and CRC but lack analytical sensitivity in separating CRC from adenoma as well as adenoma from the control group. The new calprotectin rapid test is a convenient method for assessing the calprotectin level in an outpatient setting. Henceforth, it provides a precondition for the fecal calprotectin method to challenge fecal occult blood testing in further evaluations.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the excellent assistance of Prof. W. Zoller, MD, A. Schreiber, MD, (Katharinenhospital), E. Fröhlich, MD, M. Schmidt, MD, (Karl-Olga-Hospital), Prof. E. Stange, MD, (Robert-Bosch-Hospital), H. Gölkel, MD, Th. Bühler MD, Prof. B. Klump, MD, K. Teubner, MD, D. Vogler, MD, A. Maier, MD, and A. Mühlhöfer, MD, in recruiting patients and kindly providing samples.

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  1. Department of Nutritional Medicine (180), University of Hohenheim, Fruhwirtstr. 12, 70593, Stuttgart, Germany

    A. Damms & S. C. Bischoff

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  1. A. Damms
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Correspondence to S. C. Bischoff.

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Support for analytical kits: Prevista GmbH & Co. KG, Munich, Germany.

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Damms, A., Bischoff, S.C. Validation and clinical significance of a new calprotectin rapid test for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases. Int J Colorectal Dis 23, 985–992 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-008-0506-0

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