This prospective cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the diagnostic value of fecal calprotectin as a non-invasive biomarker in children with gastrointestinal disorders and to assess its correlation with endoscopic and histopathological findings at Assiut University Children Hospital.
Gastrointestinal symptoms such as chronic abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, and rectal bleeding are common reasons for referral to pediatric gastroenterology clinics. Distinguishing organic inflammatory disease from functional disorders remains a diagnostic challenge. Fecal calprotectin is a non-invasive marker of intestinal inflammation. This study will include children aged 2 to 18 years with chronic or recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms who are scheduled for endoscopic evaluation. Fecal calprotectin levels will be measured and compared with endoscopic and histopathological findings to determine diagnostic performance, including sensitivity, specificity, and optimal cutoff values.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
120
Diagnostic performance of fecal calprotectin
Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of fecal calprotectin for detecting mucosal inflammation, using endoscopic and histopathological findings as the reference standard.
Time frame: Baseline
Correlation with endoscopic findings
Correlation between fecal calprotectin concentration (µg/g) and endoscopic severity scores (Mayo Endoscopic Subscore or SES-CD).
Time frame: Baseline
Correlation with histopathological findings
Correlation between fecal calprotectin concentration (µg/g) and histopathological grade of mucosal inflammation.
Time frame: Baseline
Optimal cutoff value of fecal calprotectin
Optimal cutoff value of fecal calprotectin for detecting mucosal inflammation derived from ROC curve analysis.
Time frame: Baseline
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