Comparison between fecal calprotectin and magnetic resonance enterography in ileal Crohn's disease for activity disease assessment: a systematic review.

Abstract

<h4>Background</h4>Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory condition requiring regular follow-up through consultations and monitoring via laboratory, radiographic, and endoscopic examinations. Fecal calprotectin (FC) and magnetic resonance (MR) enterography are prominent non-invasive methods for assessing disease activity. However, while MR enterography is a valuable diagnostic tool, its high cost and limited accessibility present challenges for widespread use. In contrast, FC is a more affordable and accessible biomarker. To perform a systematic review (SR) examining the correlation between FC levels and MR enterography findings in patients with ileal CD.<h4>Methods</h4>A systematic literature search was conducted across the following databases: PubMed, PubMed PMC, BVS-BIREME, SCOPUS, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library, and it was completed in October 2024.<h4>Results</h4>Eight studies were included in this SR. Seven demonstrated a positive correlation between FC levels and MR enterography findings. Additionally, two studies reported significantly lower FC levels in ileal CD than in exclusive colonic or ileocolonic CD cases. The FC cutoff values ranged from >100 to >430 µg/g of feces to determine the activity of the disease.<h4>Conclusions</h4>FC proved to be a reliable biomarker for diagnosing and monitoring CD, demonstrating a positive correlation with findings from MR enterography.