“International Medical Service in Egypt.”

Import of Detection of Calprotectin and Lactoferrin in Stool

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are two chronic conditions associated with diarrhea and abdominal pain, and these symptoms are among the most common reasons that patients seek medical advice. Differential diagnosis between IBD and IBS is very important because IBD and IBS have very different underlying pathophysiologies and IBD can become life threatening, requiring extensive lifelong treatment and/or surgery. In contrast, IBS can often be treated with dietary restrictions, stress reduction and nutritional supplements or medication, and is not associated with rectal bleeding.

alprotectin and lactoferrin are proteins found in neutrophils. Levels of calprotectin in the stool indicate the presence of these cells due to damage to the intestinal mucosa. Thus, increased fecal calprotectin and lactoferrin levels are observed in patients with IBD, e.g., Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, while its level is normal in patients with IBS. Thus, for undiagnosed patients, the fecal calprotectin and lactoferrin stool test can indicate a diagnosis without more invasive testing methods such as endoscopy.Detection of calprotectin and lactoferrin can also be used to assess efficacy of IBD treatment and to predict relapses or flares of IBD.

In addition, Elevated levels of fecal lactoferrin predicts the presence of enteric infection such as E.coli, Shigella and Clostridium difficile toxin, but levels will not increase in diarrhea caused by parasites or viral disease.

Calprotectin and Lactoferrin are now routinely done in Alfa Laboratories

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