Systematic Reviews
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Pediatr. Jun 9, 2024; 13(2): 93341
Published online Jun 9, 2024. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v13.i2.93341
Fecal calprotectin in pediatric gastrointestinal diseases: Pros and cons
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Nermin Kamal Saeed, Adel Salah Bediwy, Reem Elbeltagi
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Department of Pediatric, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta ‎31511‎, Alghrabia, Egypt
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center, King Abdulla Medical City, Arabian Gulf ‎University, Manama 26671‎, Manama, Bahrain
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center, Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib ‎Medical Group‎, Bahrain, Manama ‎‎26671, Manama, Bahrain
Nermin Kamal Saeed, Medical Microbiology Section, Department of Pathology, Salmaniya Medical Complex, ‎Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Bahrain, Manama 12, Manama, Bahrain
Nermin Kamal Saeed, Medical Microbiology Section, Department of Pathology‎, Irish Royal College of ‎Surgeon, Bahrain, Busaiteen 15503‎, Muharraq, Bahrain
Adel Salah Bediwy, Department of Pulmonology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta ‎‎31527, Alghrabia, Egypt
Adel Salah Bediwy, Department of Pulmonology, University Medical Center, King Abdulla Medical City, ‎‎Arabian Gulf University, Manama 26671, Manama, Bahrain
Adel Salah Bediwy, Department of Pulmonology‎, University Medical Center, King Abdulla Medical City, ‎‎Dr. ‎Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group, Manama 26671, ‎Manama, Bahrain
Reem Elbeltagi, Department of Medicine, The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Bahrain, ‎Busiateen 15503, Muharraq, Bahrain
Co-first authors: Mohammed Al-Beltagi and Nermin Kamal Saeed.
Author contributions: Al-Biltagi M led the project, conceptualized the article, and contributed extensively to the writing; Saeed NK collaborated closely, provided expertise, and co-authored; Bediwy AS assisted in data collection and manuscript preparation; Elbeltagi R contributed to data analysis, discussions, and manuscript refinement; together, they authored a comprehensive systematic review of pediatric gastrointestinal diseases.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this review article.
PRISMA 2009 Checklist statement: The authors have read the PRISMA 2009 Checklist, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the PRISMA 2009 Checklist.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Mohammed Al-Beltagi, MBChB, MD, PhD, Academic Editor, Chairman, Professor, Research Scientist, Department of Pediatric, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Al-Bahr Street, The Medical Complex, Tanta 31511‎, Alghrabia, Egypt. mbelrem@hotmail.com
Received: February 25, 2024
Revised: April 28, 2024
Accepted: May 14, 2024
Published online: June 9, 2024
Processing time: 103 Days and 3.4 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND

Fecal calprotectin is a valuable biomarker for assessing intestinal inflammation in pediatric gastrointestinal diseases. However, its role, pros, and cons in various conditions must be comprehensively elucidated.

AIM

To explore the role of fecal calprotectin in pediatric gastrointestinal diseases, including its advantages and limitations.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted on PubMed, PubMed Central, Google Scholar, and other scientific research engines until February 24, 2024. The review included 88 research articles, 56 review articles, six meta-analyses, two systematic reviews, two consensus papers, and two letters to the editors.

RESULTS

Fecal calprotectin is a non-invasive marker for detecting intestinal inflammation and monitoring disease activity in pediatric conditions such as functional gastrointestinal disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease, coronavirus disease 2019-induced gastrointestinal disorders, gastroenteritis, and cystic fibrosis-associated intestinal pathology. However, its lack of specificity and susceptibility to various confounding factors pose challenges in interpretation. Despite these limitations, fecal calprotectin offers significant advantages in diagnosing, monitoring, and managing pediatric gastrointestinal diseases.

CONCLUSION

Fecal calprotectin holds promise as a valuable tool in pediatric gastroenterology, offering insights into disease activity, treatment response, and prognosis. Standardized protocols and guidelines are needed to optimize its clinical utility and mitigate interpretation challenges. Further research is warranted to address the identified limitations and enhance our understanding of fecal calprotectin in pediatric gastrointestinal diseases.

Keywords: Fecal calprotectin; Pediatric gastrointestinal diseases; Functional gastrointestinal ‎disorders; Inflammatory bowel disease; Coeliac disease; COVID-19-induced ‎gastrointestinal disorders; Infectious gastroenteritis; Cystic fibrosis

Core Tip: The core findings of this systematic review underscore the pivotal role of fecal calprotectin as a non-invasive marker for assessing intestinal inflammation in pediatric gastrointestinal diseases. Through an extensive systematic literature review, it was evident that fecal calprotectin provides valuable insights into disease activity, treatment response, and prognosis across various conditions, including functional gastrointestinal disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease, coronavirus disease 2019 induced gastrointestinal disorders, gastroenteritis, and cystic fibrosis-associated intestinal pathology. Despite its limitations in specificity and susceptibility to confounding factors, fecal calprotectin remains a valuable tool in pediatric gastroenterology, offering clinicians a means to diagnose, monitor, and manage gastrointestinal diseases effectively.