Does fecal calprotectin predict short-term relapse after stopping TNFα-blocking agents in inflammatory bowel disease patients in deep remission?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This prospective multicenter study examined whether elevated fecal calprotec tin (FC) concentrations after stopping TNFα-blocking therapy can predict clinical or endoscopic relapse. In addition, we evaluated the impact of histological remission on the relapse risk. METHODS: We enrolled inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients who were in clinical, endoscopic, and FC-based (< 100 µg/g) remission after a minimum 11 months of TNFα-blocking therapy. The patients were followed-up for 12 months after the discontinuation of TNFα-blocking therapy. FC was collected monthly for the first 6 months and thereafter every second month. Ileocolonoscopy was performed at inclusion, at 4 months, at the study end, and at the time of clinical relapse. RESULTS: Of 52 enrolled patients, 49 (16 Crohn's disease, 33 ulcerative colitis/IBD unclassified) provided the stool samples requested and comprised the study group. During the follow-up, 15/49 (31%) relapsed, whereas 34 (69%) remained in remission. Patients relapsing showed constantly elevated FC levels for a median of 94 (13-317) days before the relapse. Significant increase in median FC levels was seen 2 (p = 0.0014), 4 (p = 0.0056), and 6 (p = 0.0029) months before endoscopic relapse. Constantly normal FC concentrations during the follow-up were highly predictive for clinical and endoscopic remission. Normal FC concentrations in patients with remission were associated with histological remission. CONCLUSION: FC seems to increase and remain elevated before clinical or endoscopic relapse, suggesting that it can be used as a surrogate marker for predicting and identifying patients requiring close follow-up in clinical practice.