Calprotectin is a calcium-binding protein that presents predominantly in neutrophils with antimicrobial and antiproliferative properties. Fecal calprotectin concentration is increased in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to study fecal calprotectin in children with IBD at diagnosis. Stool samples from 20 children (10 male, 50%) with a median age of 12.5 years (6.25-16.5 years) were collected to measure calprotectin at the time of IBD diagnosis. There were 10 patients with Crohn’s disease, seven with ulcerative colitis and three with indeterminate colitis. The control group consisted of 33 children (15 male, 45.4%) with a median age of 9.5 years (5-14 years) without gastrointestinal symptoms or diseases. Patients with IBD had significantly higher concentration of fecal calprotectin than healthy children (430.8 (43.7-2500) versus 9.7 (1-70) μg/g feces; p=0.001). Nineteen (95%) patients had high fecal calprotectin, 17 (85%) had elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, 15 (75%) had anemia, high C-reactive protein levels and high platelet counts, 13 (65%) had leukocytosis, and 9 (45%) had hypoalbuminemia. Fecal calprotectin is significantly elevated in children with IBD, and evaluation of fecal calprotectin together with other laboratory parameters may produce a better initial diagnostic evaluation.

Keywords: enflamatuar bağırsak hastalığı, çocukluk dönemi, fekal kalprotektin.