Fecal calreticulin testing above normal levels suggests inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Fecal calprotectin is a cytoplasmic protein released by macrophages and neutrophils in the intestinal tract, which normally ranges from 0 to 50 μg/g. Clinical testing of fecal calprotectin is often used to differentiate between functional bowel disease and inflammatory bowel disease, with inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis causing elevated fecal calprotectin, while functional bowel disease does not cause it to increase.
Patients with elevated fecal calprotectin or normal fecal calprotectin but accompanied by obvious gastrointestinal symptoms may undergo further colonoscopy, fecal routine and other related auxiliary tests to further clarify the cause.
Patients with high fecal calprotectin test are recommended to go to the gastroenterology department of regular hospitals for detailed consultation.