| Institution: | 1. School of Women''s and Children''s Health, Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia;2. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Sydney Children''s Hospital, High Street, Randwick 2031, New South Wales, Australia;3. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sydney Children''s Hospital, High Street, Randwick 2031, New South Wales, Australia;4. Sydney Medical Program, The University of Sydney, Camperdown 2050, New South Wales, Australia;5. Department of Newborn Care, The Royal Hospital for Women, Barker Street, Randwick 2031, New South Wales, Australia;6. Department of Pediatrics, University of Otago, 2 Riccarton Ave, Christchurch 8011, Canterbury, New Zealand;7. Department of Gastroenterology, Sydney Children''s Hospital, High Street, Randwick 2031, New South Wales, Australia |
| Abstract: | BackgroundFecal calprotectin may be used as a non-invasive method to assess the effect of novel therapies on the gut in cystic fibrosis (CF).MethodStools from CF patients and healthy controls (HC) (0–10 years old) were prospectively collected for evaluation of temporal trends.Results130 CF samples (64 subjects) and 114 HC samples (101 subjects) were collected. Overall, fecal calprotectin levels were different in CF patients and HC from 0 to 10 years (P = 0.0002). Fecal calprotectin in CF was significantly lower than HC from 0 to 1 years (P = 0.03) and demonstrated an upward trajectory until 4 years. From > 4 to 10 years calprotectin was consistently higher in CF patients compared with HC (P = 0.007).ConclusionsFecal calprotectin levels in children with CF and HC were age-dependent and had distinct trajectories. Careful interpretation of calprotectin is required if used in drug trials for CF, particularly in children less than 4 years old. |
