Differential Diagnosis for Elevated Fecal Calprotectin in a 63-year-old Female with Diarrhea
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), such as Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's Disease: Elevated fecal calprotectin is a sensitive marker for intestinal inflammation, and IBD is a common cause of chronic diarrhea and inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Infectious Gastroenteritis: Bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections can cause diarrhea and elevate fecal calprotectin levels due to the resulting inflammation.
- Microscopic Colitis: A condition characterized by inflammation of the colon lining, which can cause chronic diarrhea and elevated fecal calprotectin.
- Diverticulitis: Inflammation of the diverticula in the colon can cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, and elevated fecal calprotectin.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) Infection: A potentially life-threatening condition that can cause severe diarrhea, colitis, and elevated fecal calprotectin. It is essential to rule out C. diff infection, especially in hospitalized or recently antibiotic-exposed patients.
- Ischemic Colitis: Reduced blood flow to the colon can cause inflammation, diarrhea, and elevated fecal calprotectin. This condition requires prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent complications.
Rare Diagnoses
- Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis: A rare condition characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract, which can cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, and elevated fecal calprotectin.
- Collagenous Colitis: A rare form of microscopic colitis that can cause chronic diarrhea and elevated fecal calprotectin.
- Lymphocytic Colitis: Another rare form of microscopic colitis that can cause chronic diarrhea and elevated fecal calprotectin.
- Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GVHD): A rare condition that can occur after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, causing diarrhea, abdominal pain, and elevated fecal calprotectin due to inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.