From the Guidelines
Fecal calprotectin levels are not a primary diagnostic marker for Helicobacter pylori infection, and their elevation in H. pylori patients is generally mild and nonspecific, primarily reflecting intestinal inflammation rather than being a direct indicator of the infection itself. The relationship between fecal calprotectin and H. pylori infection is indirect, as H. pylori can cause gastric inflammation, which may lead to a mild increase in calprotectin levels 1. However, for diagnosing H. pylori infection, more specific tests such as urea breath tests, stool antigen tests, serological tests, or gastric biopsies during endoscopy are recommended.
Key Points to Consider:
- Fecal calprotectin is primarily used as a marker of intestinal inflammation, particularly in inflammatory bowel disease.
- The elevation of fecal calprotectin in H. pylori infection is typically lower than that seen in inflammatory bowel disease.
- Standard eradication therapy for H. pylori infection includes a proton pump inhibitor plus two antibiotics for 10-14 days.
- Confirmation of eradication after treatment is crucial and can be done using either a urea breath test or a stool antigen test at least 4 weeks after completion of therapy and after stopping proton pump inhibitors for at least 2 weeks 1.
Clinical Implications:
The management of H. pylori infection focuses on eradication therapy to prevent complications such as peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. While fecal calprotectin may provide some insight into the inflammatory status of the gastrointestinal tract, it is not a reliable marker for diagnosing or monitoring H. pylori infection. Therefore, the use of specific diagnostic tests for H. pylori is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Given the potential for H. pylori to cause significant morbidity and mortality, particularly through its association with gastric cancer, prompt and appropriate management based on definitive diagnostic tests is critical 1.
From the Research
Relationship Between Fecal Calprotectin Levels and H. pylori Infection
- There are no research papers to assist in answering this question, as the provided studies focus on the treatment and eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection, but do not mention fecal calprotectin levels 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The studies discuss various treatment regimens for H. pylori infection, including triple therapy and quadruple therapy, and their effectiveness in eradicating the infection 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- However, none of the studies provide information on the relationship between fecal calprotectin levels and H. pylori infection, making it impossible to determine a connection between the two 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.