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233 Faecal Calprotectin Levels At Two Months of Age in Healthy Infants and in Infants with Atopic and Gastrointestinal Disorders

Background: Recently the mielomonocytic calcium-binding protein calprotectin has been proposed as sensible marker in faeces for gastrointestinal inflammation, but there are only a few studies about this topic in infancy. The aim of the study was determining normal faecal calprotectin levels in healthy infants during the first 3 months of life and comparing differences between healthy infants and those with atopic diseases, gastroesophageal reflux or severe colic.Methods: Between September 2003 and January 2004 stools samples of 21 healthy infants (mean age 58±24 days) and 14 infants with atopic diseases (atopic dermatitis, cow's milk intolerance) and/or severe infantile colic and/or gastroesophageal reflux (mean age 59±19.1 days) diagnosed by clinical examination and laboratoristic analysis were collected at our Department. Exclusion criteria were infections and intake of anti-inflammatory drugs. Stool samples were stored at –20°C until they were analysed. Faecal calprotectin levels were detected using a quantitative ELISA (Calprest, Eurospital SpA, Trieste, Italy). The study protocol was approved by the hospital's ethic commette and parents gave written consent to inclusion of their infants in the study. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test. A value of p<0.05 was used for statistical significance.Results: Calprotectin levels in healthy infants were significantly lower than those in infants with the detected diseases (157.9±86.9 mg/kg vs 770.1±287.4 mg/kg, p=0.000). No differences were found in relation to the kind of feeding (breast-fed: 408.4±327.2, formula-fed: 349.3±338.4; p=0.627). The two groups were equivalent for age (healthy infants: 58.3±23.6 days, infants with disorders: 58.7±19.1 days; p=0.958) and for gender (healthy infants: M/F=12/9, infants with disorders: M/F=6/8).Conclusion: It is well known that faecal calprotectin levels in infants during the first months of life are higher than in healthy adults and show a wide interindividual and age-dipendent variation. Surprisingly, contrary to previous published data, we have not found any difference between breast-fed and formula-fed infants. Anyway, our finding suggests that this marker might be useful not only to detect bowel inflammation, but also to identify gut involvement related to atopy. Alterations in calprotectin levels may be associated with specific disorders in infancy such as atopic dermatitis, cow's milk intolerance, severe infantile colic and gastroesophageal reflux. Fund of scientific research: MURST 60%.