Fecal Calprotectin Is a Predictor of Need for Rescue Therapy in Hospitalized Severe Colitis

Background Up to one-third of patients hospitalized for acute severe colitis secondary to inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) do not adequately respond to intravenous steroids. There is an unmet need to identify a useful predictor for rescue treatment in this cohort of patients. Aims The aim of this study was to assess the predictive efficacy of fecal calprotectin in identifying the need for medical or surgical therapy in patients with acute severe colitis. Methods We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study including patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) who were hospitalized for severe exacerbation of colitis. The primary outcome was the need for in-hospital medical or surgical rescue therapy. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of rescue therapy. Results Our study included 147 patients with UC. One-third (33%) required rescue therapy, and 13% underwent colectomy. Patients requiring rescue therapy had significantly higher fecal calprotectin (mean 1748 mcg/g vs 1353 mcg/g, P = .02) compared with those who did not. A fecal calprotectin >800 mcg/g independently predicted the need for inpatient medical rescue therapy (odds ratio, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.12-6.12). An admission calprotectin >800 mcg/g independently predicted surgery within 3 months (odds ratio, 2.88; 95% CI, 1.01-8.17). Conclusions Fecal calprotectin levels may serve as a useful noninvasive predictor of medical and surgical risk in individuals with UC presenting with acute severe colitis. This approach can facilitate earlier therapeutic interventions and improve outcomes.

Automated summary

This study assessed the predictive efficacy of fecal calprotectin in identifying the need for medical or surgical therapy in patients with acute severe colitis. The results demonstrated that patients with higher fecal calprotectin levels were more likely to require in-hospital medical rescue therapy or surgery. This predictive marker has the potential to facilitate earlier therapeutic interventions and improve patient outcomes.