Evaluation of the Relationship Between Mucosal Diseases and Faecal Calprotectin Levels in Children Who Underwent Upper Gastrointestinal System Endoscopy

INTRODUCTION: In this study, the correlation of faecal calprotectin (FC) levels with endoscopic and histopathological findings was evaluated in children who underwent upper gastrointestinal system (UGIS) endoscopy.
METHODS: The patients aged 4–18 years admitted to our endoscopy unit were included in the study. Faecal samples were collected on the day participants presented for the study. A calprotectin assay was performed on faecal samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. FC levels were compared with those of children with normal histopathology.
RESULTS: FC levels of 112 children included in the study were evaluated according to their histopathological diagnoses. FC levels were not found to be significantly higher than those in healthy children. No significant difference was found in FC levels of participants with and without signs of inflammation in the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. In participants with chronic gastritis, Helicobacter pylori gastritis, reflux esophagitis and celiac disease, FC levels above cut-off values were observed. However, no significant difference was found in participants with normal endoscopic findings. There was no significant difference in FC levels between similar regions of the UGIS with and without signs of inflammation. A positive correlation was discovered between eosinophil counts and FC levels in patients with Helicobacter pylori gastritis and esophagitis.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The diagnostic value of FC levels in UGIS diseases was not sufficient to establish a definitive diagnosis in our study.