Fecal Calprotectin (FC) in newborn: predictive marker of gastrointestinal and/or allergic disease?

Fecal Calprotectin (FC) is a biomarker of intestinal inflammation both in adults and in children. High FC concentration in healthy term and preterm newborns are similar to those found in children with treated IBD and elevated FC levels at two months of age have been found in infants with atopic dermatitis, cow’s milk intolerance, severe infantile colic and gastro oesophageal reflux. Aim. To evaluate if FC levels at birth and at one month of age can relate to the development of gastrointestinal functional (DFGI) and/or allergic disease. Methods. Between December 2007 and January 2008 a telephonic interview was done to parents of 109 children (mean age: 2.5 years) healthy term newborn in which FC has been measured both at birth and at one month of age [1]. A modified version of the original paediatric questionnaire for paediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders (QPGS) [2] was used for this interview, with specific questions added to address allergic disease. Statistical analysis were performed using SPSS version 10.1 for Windows. Models of statistical variance were used to assess associations between variables. Results. 89/109 (81.6%) of parents accepted to answer. There were 11/89 (12.3%) children with diagnosed cow’s milk protein allergy (group 1), 5/89 (5.9%) children with atopic dermatitis (group 2), one case (1.1%) with diagnosis of infant regurgitation according to Roma III criteria (group 3); 72/89 (80.7%) have no disease (group 4). FC levels did not differ among different groups. 45/89 (50.5%) children A82 Abstracts / Digestive and Liver Disease 40 (2008) A41–A118 have familiar history positive for gastrointestinal diseases (group 5). Conclusion. We have not found correlation between high FC levels during the first month of age and subsequent development of allergic or gastrointestinal disease. High calprotectin levels during the first month may be related to its cytokine-like activity, playing a pivotal role in the physiologic development of the immune response and the host defence mechanisms against fungal or bacterial infection.