What is calprotectin?
Calcium and zinc binding protein produced by neutrophils. A marker of neutrophil count (ie inflammation) in body fluids.
Causes of high faecal calprotectin
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Blood in stool (nosebleed, menstrual blood)
- NSAID/aspirin enteropathy
- Bacterial inflammation
- Extremes of age
- CRC
- Diverticular disease
Utility of faecal calprotectin
- Distinguish IBD from IBS
- Early detection of relapse in IBD
- Prediction of relapse in IBD
- Prediction of response to treatment
Your lab’s method for calprotectin
Diasorin Liaison. Two-step, 2 site chemiluminscent immunoassay utilising paramagentic particles coated with capture antibody and isoluminol labelled signal antibody.
What is faecal elastase?
Pancreatic protease that passes unchanged through GIT
Utility of faecal elastase?
- Identify pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (replaces faecal trypsin/chymotrypsin)
- Investigate diarrhoea unknown cause
- Assess pts with CF
Causes of falsely low faecal elastase?
Watery diarrhoea (dilutes concentration) - however a normal result in this scenario therefore can exclude pancreatic insufficiency.
Is porcine elastase in supplements detected by faecal elastase test?
NO
Your lab’s method for faecal elastase
Diasorin Liaison. 2 step 2 site chemiluminescent immunoassay with capture antibody bound to paramagnetic particles and isoluminol-labelled signal antibody.
Decision limits for faecal elastase
< 100 ug/g = severe pancreatic exocrine insufficiency
100-200ug/g = mild to mod exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
>/= 200 ug/g = normal
