Fecal calprotectin in helicobacter pylori gastritis

Yurtsever, Ö., Fecal calprotectin in Helicobacter pylori gastritis, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Thesis in Pediatrics. Ankara, 2014. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the most important cause of chronic gastritis in children, and the most valid method in diagnosis of H. pylori is demonstrating the microorganism in endoscopic gastric biopsies. Fecal calprotectin is an objective and non-invasive marker showing the inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, especially in diagnosis and management of inflammatory bowel diseases. Fecal calprotectin is also widely used to determine the requirement of endoscopy and severity in inflammatory bowel diseases. There are few studies showing the relationship between fecal calprotectin levels and upper gastrointestinal diseases. Children who applied to Pediatric Gastroenterology Departments of Baskent University, Faculty of Medicine and Dr. Sami Ulus Obstetrics, Children's Health and Diseases, Training and Research Hospital between November 2013 and May 2014 were evaluated. Fecal calprotectin test was performed to 89 patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Endoscopy results and reports of gastric antral biopsies of the patients were evaluated, fecal calprotectin levels of H. pylori positive 51 patients (57%) and negative patients were compared. Mean fecal calprotectin levels were 74.8 µg/g and 52.7 µg/g in H. pylori positive and negative groups, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (p=0.039). Activity and inflammation degrees according to The Updated Sydney Classification were not related with fecal calprotectin levels (p>0.05). Fecal calprotectin levels are higher in H. pylori positive group, but the sensivitiy and the specificity of the test are low, therefore routine measurement of fecal calprotectin levels in diagnosis of H. pylori gastritis is not advisable. Key words: H. pylori, fecal calprotectin, gastritis