Clinical Profile and Analysis of Biological Markers (Fecal Calprotectin and CRP) during Relapse of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in a Population of Adults

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are increasingly common pathologies, affecting both adults and children. This study investigates the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of IBD among patients at the gastroentero-hepatology department of Annaba University Hospital. Conducted from February 2023 to September 2024, the prospective descriptive analytical study included 77 patients diagnosed with IBD, focusing on the role of biological markers, specifically C-reactive protein (CRP) and fecal calprotectin (FC), in non-invasive disease assessment. Inclusion criteria were based on clinical, endoscopic and histological assessments. Demographic data, clinical manifestations, CRP and FC levels were analyzed. Among the 77 patients, 53 patients or 68.9% had Crohn's disease (CD), while 24 patients or 31.1% suffered from ulcerative colitis (UC). The most prevalent symptoms were abdominal pain and chronic diarrhea. Among CD patients, ileal involvement was common in 21 cases (39.62%) with  25 cases (32,47 %)  experiencing complications The study found that 34 or 46.57% of patients had elevated CRP levels, with a higher prevalence in those with CD compared to UC. A statistically significant association was observed between CRP levels and IBD type. Additionally, the analysis revealed that among patients experiencing relapse, 20 cases or 52.63% had positive FC results, compared to 14 cases or  35.9% in remission, indicating a significant correlation between relapse status and FC levels (P=0.018). However, no significant association was found between relapse status and CRP levels, although a significant difference in mean CRP levels between active and remission states in UC was noted (P=0.03). A weak positive correlation (r =0.12) between CRP and FC during active phases was also identified. The findings underscore the clinical and epidemiological profile of IBD in this population, highlighting the importance of FC as a valuable marker for monitoring disease activity and relapse status in IBD patients.