Annals of clinical biochemistry
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Ann. Clin. Biochem. · May 2004
Comparative StudyFaecal calprotectin: a new marker for Crohn's disease?
Gastroenterologists are often hampered by the lack of a reliable, non-invasive index of bowel inflammation when establishing a differential diagnosis for patients presenting with chronic diarrhoea. Investigations aim to distinguish between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (e.g. Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). As an acute phase protein, faecal calprotectin measurement may be useful in this context. ⋯ A single calprotectin measurement may aid gastroenterologists in the differential diagnosis of Crohn's disease and IBS. Its use could decrease the number of invasive or radiological investigations undertaken in the latter group of patients.
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Ann. Clin. Biochem. · May 2004
Composition of LDL particle discriminates between hypercholesterolaemic persons with and without symptoms of coronary heart disease.
It is well known that high total and LDL cholesterol concentrations are not prerequisites for ischemic heart disease. This study aimed to differentiate between patients with coronary heart symptoms and healthy subjects with high cholesterol concentrations, using other potential risk factors such as oxidation state, body iron status and the oxidative state of the LDL particle. ⋯ The oxidative state of the LDL particle discriminated between patients with symptoms of coronary heart disease and hypercholesterolaemic persons without symptoms of coronary heart disease.