Correlation of Faecal calprotectin with clinical observations
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation into a correlation between the level of faecal calprotectin in suspected Inflammatory bowel disease patients with clinical observations with the investigation into the progression of inflammation over a 2 month period related to the initial calprotectin level.
IRAS ID
147302
Contact name
Elizabeth Moorut
Contact email
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NA, NA
Research summary
Faecal calprotectin is a cytosolic protein within neutrophil’s, which is found to be bound to calcium and zinc. As inflammation occurs the neutrophils migrate to the site of inflammation as part of the innate immune response. They enter the intestinal lumen and the calprotectin is released into the faecal matter. It has been established as an effective biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of the project is to evaluate whether the faecal calprotectin of suspected Inflammatory bowel disease patients correlates to the simple clinical observations of weight and frequency of bowel movement, with an increasing frequency of bowel movement and weight loss, this would indicate a more severe or active disease and so a higher calprotectin result is to be expected. The patients would already have had a faecal calprotectin measured from a GP request to identify them for referral to the gastroenterologist to confirm a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease by the gold standard colonoscopies and biopsies. The patients will be recruited through the gastroenterology department in the NHS healthcare setting. Dr Bird (Consultant Gastroenterolgist at Maidstone hospital) will be the patients first encounter with the study and Dr Bird and his specialist nurses will provide the information sheets and consent forms to the patients. They will be asked to provide a follow up sample taken 2 months later than the first to see if there is a relationship with the clinical observations and calprotectin level. Weight and frequency of bowel movement will be used as an indicator of severity of symptoms and calprotectin levels will be compared to see if they correlate and whether calprotectin levels can be used as an indicator of how the patients inflammation progresses over a 2 month period by comparison to the initial result.
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/WM/1126
Date of REC Opinion
8 Sep 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion