Why is calprotectin important?

Calprotectin is a protein released during inflammation in the intestines and plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases. Measuring calprotectin in stool helps distinguish between functional and inflammation-related intestinal symptoms. This makes it an essential tool for both doctors and patients in assessing intestinal health.

The role of calprotectin in the body

Calprotectin is produced by white blood cells (neutrophils) and is released in the intestines when inflammation occurs. This can result from various conditions, such as:

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
• Intestinal infections caused by bacteria or viruses.
• Food intolerances or allergies, such as celiac disease.
• Medication use, especially NSAIDs that can irritate the intestinal wall.

By measuring calprotectin levels, a doctor can assess whether inflammation is present and whether further investigation is necessary.

Calprotectin as a diagnostic tool

One of the main reasons why calprotectin is important is that it helps distinguish between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and functional bowel disease such as irritable bowel syndrome (PDS).

• In IBD, calprotectin levels are usually highly elevated, indicating active inflammation in the intestines.
• In PDS, calprotectin levels usually remain normal because there is no inflammatory response.

This difference is crucial because treatment for these conditions varies widely. IBD requires medical treatment, while PDS can often be managed with diet and lifestyle modifications.

Benefits of calprotectin testing

Calprotectin testing has several advantages:

1. Non-invasive diagnosis
   Measuring calprotectin is done through a stool test, which is less invasive than, say, a colonoscopy. This makes it a low-threshold test to detect inflammation in the intestines.
2. Early detection of intestinal diseases
   By testing calprotectin levels, doctors can pick up early signs of chronic intestinal diseases. This can lead to faster treatment and better prognosis.
3. Preventing unnecessary examinations
   Patients with functional bowel problems can avoid unnecessary endoscopies or other invasive examinations thanks to a calprotectin test.
4. Monitoring disease activity
   In people with IBD, a calprotectin test can help determine whether treatment is effective or if disease activity is increasing. This makes it a valuable tool for disease management.

When is it important to test calprotectin?

A calprotectin test is recommended in people with:

• Persistent or recurrent abdominal complaints
• Diarrhoea or fluctuating stools with no apparent cause
• Suspected chronic bowel disease
• Family members with inflammatory bowel diseases
• Unexplained weight loss or blood in stools

In case of elevated values, a doctor may decide to do further investigations, such as a colonoscopy, to determine the underlying cause.

Conclusion

Calprotectin is an essential biomarker for detecting and monitoring inflammation in the gut. It helps distinguish chronic inflammatory diseases such as Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis from functional disorders such as PDS. Thanks to its ability to measure intestinal health non-invasively, calprotectin is a valuable diagnostic tool. For persistent intestinal symptoms, it is advisable to consider calprotectin testing to get timely medical guidance.