OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to test fecal calprotectin (FC) as a screening tool to identify inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) among patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).METHODS: FC level < 100 g/kg was considered normal. Patients with 2 consecutive FC dosage ? 100 g/kg underwent endoscopic evaluation.RESULTS: There were 113 patients with JIA enrolled. FC was raised in 7 patients out of 113. All patients had IBD. In 3/7 patients, high FC levels were the only sign consistent with IBD.CONCLUSION: FC is a useful, economical, and noninvasive diagnostic tool to identify JIA patients with underlying IBD.
Adolescent Arthritis, Juvenile