TY - JOUR
T1 - Fecal lactoferrin is a sensitive and specific marker in identifying intestinal inflammation
AU - Kane, Sunanda V.
AU - Sandborn, William J.
AU - Rufo, Paul A.
AU - Zholudev, Anna
AU - Boone, James
AU - Lyerly, David
AU - Camilleri, Michael
AU - Hanauer, Stephen B.
PY - 2003/6/1
Y1 - 2003/6/1
N2 - OBJECTIVE: Lactoferrin is a glycoprotein expressed by activated neutrophils. The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of fecal lactoferrin concentrations for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) versus healthy controls. METHODS: Fresh stool samples were collected from outpatients with ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn's disease (CD), or IBS. Clinical disease activity for IBD was assessed using a modified Harvey-Bradshaw Activity Index. Fecal lactoferrin concentrations were determined using a polyclonal antibody-based enzyme linked immunoassay. Mean fecal lactoferrin concentrations for each group and sensitivity and specificity of the assay were determined. RESULTS: One hundred-four CD patients, 80 UC patients, 31 IBS patients, and 56 healthy controls were recruited. The mean ± SE fecal lactoferrin concentration (μg/g fecal weight) was 440 ± 128 for CD patients, 1125 ± 498 for UC patients, 1.27 ± 0.29 for IBS patients, and 1.45 ± 0.4 for healthy controls. Fecal lactoferrin was 90% specific for identifying inflammation in patients with active IBD. Elevated fecal lactoferrin was 100% specific in ruling out IBS. CONCLUSIONS: Fecal lactoferrin is sensitive and specific for detecting inflammation in chronic IBD. This noninvasive test may prove useful in screening for inflammation in patients presenting with abdominal pain and diarrhea.
AB - OBJECTIVE: Lactoferrin is a glycoprotein expressed by activated neutrophils. The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of fecal lactoferrin concentrations for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) versus healthy controls. METHODS: Fresh stool samples were collected from outpatients with ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn's disease (CD), or IBS. Clinical disease activity for IBD was assessed using a modified Harvey-Bradshaw Activity Index. Fecal lactoferrin concentrations were determined using a polyclonal antibody-based enzyme linked immunoassay. Mean fecal lactoferrin concentrations for each group and sensitivity and specificity of the assay were determined. RESULTS: One hundred-four CD patients, 80 UC patients, 31 IBS patients, and 56 healthy controls were recruited. The mean ± SE fecal lactoferrin concentration (μg/g fecal weight) was 440 ± 128 for CD patients, 1125 ± 498 for UC patients, 1.27 ± 0.29 for IBS patients, and 1.45 ± 0.4 for healthy controls. Fecal lactoferrin was 90% specific for identifying inflammation in patients with active IBD. Elevated fecal lactoferrin was 100% specific in ruling out IBS. CONCLUSIONS: Fecal lactoferrin is sensitive and specific for detecting inflammation in chronic IBD. This noninvasive test may prove useful in screening for inflammation in patients presenting with abdominal pain and diarrhea.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0037635274&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0037635274&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2003.07458.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2003.07458.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 12818275
AN - SCOPUS:0037635274
SN - 0002-9270
VL - 98
SP - 1309
EP - 1314
JO - American Journal of Gastroenterology
JF - American Journal of Gastroenterology
IS - 6
ER -