Evaluation of fecal protein S100A12 in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The diagnosis and evaluation of inflammatory bowel disease is quite complex. An ideal, noninvasive marker for this disease is quite urgently needed. Fecal S100A12 is a member of the S100 protein family and is secreted by activated neutrophils. We aim to evaluate it as a biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease patients in China. METHODS: Fecal S100A12 was measured in 18 Crohn’s disease, 21 ulcerative colitis, and 17 healthy controls. Diagnostic value was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis in comparison with C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The correlation between fecal S100A12 and clinical characteristics was also evaluated. RESULTS: We found significant increases (p<0.01) in the diagnostic value of S100A12 in both Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease when compared to healthy controls. In ulcerative colitis, fecal S100A12 correlated with fecal occult blood (p=0.02, r=0.55); in Crohn’s disease, it correlated with disease duration, albumin and platelet levels (p=0.01, r=-0.53; p<0.01, r=-0.65; p=0.04, r=0.45. respectively). No correlation occurred between fecal S100A12 and other clinical conditions. CONCLUSION: Fecal S100A12 is valuable in distinguishing inflammatory bowel disease patients versus healthy controls. However, the sensitivity and specificity are limited when compared with that described in western countries. The correlation between S100A12 and clinical characteristics is limited as well. More research is need to better explore this interaction in Chinese patients.