Lactoferrin & Calprotectin Tests

[Catherine]

Hi Everyone

This is a question for a friend on another forum.

This child has severe issues with sugar. Her first lactoferrin test come out suggestive of IBD. Second test was not a concern.

The child has severe stomach pain and poor weight gain.

Are lactoferrin and calprotectin they same test?

She is heading forward have a colonscopy, what blood tests would you request if this was your child? She is seeing a gi.

 

[DustyKat]

They aren't the same as such although they are both used and test for essentially the same thing, that being inflammation of the intestine.

They are both types of protein that bind to white blood cells, so when inflammation is present in the bowel the area involved will experience an increase in white blood cell activity that then translates into increased levels of calprotectin and lactoferrin. That is my take on things take it with a grain a salt!

Either would be suitable as an inflammatory test except if the child young and being breast fed as lactoferrin is naturally present in breast milk.

Looking from an IBD point of view, aside from the run of baseline bloods...

LFT's (Liver Function Tests)
UEC's (Urea, Electrolytes, Creatinine)
FBC (Full Blood Count)

I would also add...

ESR and CRP (general inflammatory markers)
Iron Stores and Folate (may help establish if their are any underlying anaemic issues that aren't apparent with an Hb alone)
B12, for the reasons above plus with Vit D and Lipids to see if any malabsorption may be present.

And lastly, a coeliac test if that has not been done.

Dusty. xxx