Targeting Calprotectin Levels Below 80 for Ulcerative Colitis Plus Obesity Medication Pushback

Posted on by

K Kawashima et al. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2023; 29: 359-366. Low Fecal Calprotectin Predicts Histological Healing in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis with Endoscopic Remission and Leads to Prolonged Clinical Remission

In this prospective study (n=76), patients with UC in clinical and endoscopic remission, defined as a partial Mayo score (PMS) ≤ 2 points and a Mayo endoscopic subscore 0–1, were enrolled and followed for 2 years or until relapse, defined as a PMS > 2 or medication escalation.

Key findings:

  • The median fecal calprotectin (FC) value in patients with histologic healing (HH) (n = 40) was 56.2 µg/g, significantly lower than that in those with histological activity (118.1 µg/g; P < .01)
  • The optimal FC cutoff value to predict prolonged CR was 84.6 µg/g (72% sensitivity; 85% specificity; P < .01)

My take: Even among ulcerative colitis in clinical & endoscopic remission, fecal calprotectin levels are an objective way to identify histologic healing and to stratifying likelihood of prolonged remission.

Related blog posts:

Sendero Esperanza Trail, Saguaro National Park, Tucson AZ

It is good to see some skepticism regarding the new obesity medications. 4/2/23 USA Today: Why experts worry the ‘magic’ in new weight loss medications carries a dark side