Fecal lactoferrin accurately reflects mucosal inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease

Figure 1 Biomarker levels according to disease severity measured by Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn’s disease in Crohn’s disease patients. Analysis of variance was used on natural log-transformed values of fecal lactoferrin, white blood cell and C-reactive protein to determine whether median values significantly varied according to Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn’s disease scores. Fecal lactoferrin (A) and, less, C-reactive protein (B) showed correlation with Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn’s disease categories. WBC median values were similar across all categories (C). SES-CD: Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn’s disease; WBC: White blood cell; CRP: C-reactive protein.

Figure 2 Biomarker levels according to disease severity measured by Disease Activity Index in ulcerative colitis patients. Analysis of variance was used on natural log-transformed values of fecal lactoferrin, white blood cell and C-reactive protein to determine whether median values significantly varied according to Disease Activity Index scores. Fecal lactoferrin (A) and C-reactive protein (B) showed correlation with Disease Activity Index categories. WBC median values were similar across all categories (C). DAI: Disease Activity Index; WBC: White blood cell; CRP: C-reactive protein.

Figure 3 Biomarker levels according to disease location. Analysis of variance was used on natural log-transformed values of fecal lactoferrin, white blood cell and C-reactive protein to determine whether median values significantly varied according to disease location. Fecal lactoferrin levels (A) were significantly higher in patients with colonic and combined colonic and small bowel disease compared to patients with small bowel disease only. C-reactive protein (B) showed a similar trend while white blood cell (C) was significantly different only between patients with colonic and those with combined colonic and small bowel disease. WBC: White blood cell; CRP: C-reactive protein; SB: Small bowel.