Gastroent Hepat Barc
-
Gastroent Hepat Barc · Mar 2007
Review Comparative Study[Role of biological markers in inflammatory bowel disease].
The role played by the distinct biological markers in chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains insufficiently characterized. C-reactive protein (CRP) has a short half-life and consequently it is elevated early after the onset of the inflammatory process and rapidly decreases after its resolution, making it an attractive marker of disease activity. Moreover, this test is inexpensive and easy to perform and is unaffected by medication. ⋯ Several gastrointestinal diseases, including chronic IBD, show greater leukocyte elimination in feces and a close correlation has been described between fecal calprotectin concentration and leukocyte excretion quantified by 111indium. Advantages of this fecal marker are that it can be detected through a simple and inexpensive technique and also shows excellent stability in feces for prolonged periods. Like calprotectin, fecal lactoferrin is also quantified by a simple and inexpensive ELISA method, although there is considerably less experience with this latter marker.