Abstract
Random fecal α-1-antitrypsin (R-FA1AT) was monitored for 4 to 22 months in 18 children with Crohn's disease aged 7 to 17 years. Excess R-FA1AT indicates abnormal fecal loss of serum protein (Clin. Res. 28 (1):97A, 1980). The relationship between the number of abnormal clinical findings (ACF) and R-FAlAT was evaluated. Eleven parameters were selected to assess disease activity (abdominal pain, weight loss, fever, diarrhea, extra-intestinal symptoms, Hgb, ESR, WBC, albumin, hematochezia, and abdominal mass). Elevated R-FA1AT was associated with high ACF (X2p<0.001). Patients had 5.7±1.7 ACF when R-FA1AT was ≥3.4 (mg/gm dry stool) (X of normal + 3SD) compared to 1.4±1.0 when R-FA1AT was <3.4 (p<0.001). With treatment ACF fell from 5.9±1.3 to 0.9±0.8 (p<0.001), and R-FA1AT decreased from 10.3±5.0 to 1.7±0.7 (p<0.001). R-FA1AT became abnormal in 2 patients prior to an increase in ACF upon relapse. Two children still had abnormal R-FA1AT despite declining ACF in early remission. We conclude that R-FA1AT is an objective, sensitive, and noninvasive marker for activity of Crohn's disease.
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Thomas, D., Sinatra, F., Merritt, R. et al. 646 FECAL ALPHA-1-ANTITRYPSIN IN CHILDREN WITH CROHN'S DISEASE. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 548 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00659
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00659