Calprotectin is sensitive for which conditions?

Calprotectin is a protein found in white blood cells and is used as a biomarker in the assessment of gastrointestinal conditions. It is particularly sensitive in detecting inflammation in the intestines, which can be indicative of various conditions, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, as well as colorectal cancer.

Chronic intestinal inflammation can lead to damage and changes in the intestinal lining, which calprotectin effectively reflects. Elevated levels of calprotectin in stool samples can provide valuable information in distinguishing IBD from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is generally not associated with the same level of inflammation. This makes the measurement of calprotectin particularly useful in clinical practice for diagnosing and monitoring these gastrointestinal disorders.

The other conditions mentioned, such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and heart disease, are not typically assessed using calprotectin, as this biomarker is specific to inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, the sensitivity of calprotectin specifically aligns with colorectal cancer and bowel inflammation, reinforcing its role in identifying and managing gastrointestinal health issues.