Patient knowledge of fecal calprotectin in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): An observational study in Mexico [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
Rebeca Pérez-Cabeza de Vaca,
Jonathan Shaw,
Sofía Lizeth Alcaráz- Estrada,
Tomás Cortés-Espinosa,
Juan Antonio Suárez-Cuenca,
Graciela Castro-Escarpulli,
Paul Mondragón-Terán,
Cecilia Hernández-Cortez,
Sergio Sandoval-Jiménez,
Juan Rodríguez-Silverio,
Brenda Maldonado-Arriaga
Affiliations
Rebeca Pérez-Cabeza de Vaca
Coordinación de Investigación y División de Investigación Biomédica, ISSSTE, Félix Cuevas 540, Col del Valle Sur, Benito Juárez, Ciudad de México, 03229, Mexico
Jonathan Shaw
Department of Infection, Immunity & Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield Medical School, Broomhall, Sheffield, S10 2TG, UK
Sofía Lizeth Alcaráz- Estrada
Unidad de Análisis y Referencia Virológica, ISSSTE, Félix Cuevas 540, Col del Valle Sur, Benito Juárez, Ciudad de México, 03229, Mexico
Tomás Cortés-Espinosa
Clínica de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal, Servicio de Gastroenterología, ISSSTE, Félix Cuevas 540, Col del Valle Sur, Benito Juárez, Ciudad de México, 03229, Mexico
Juan Antonio Suárez-Cuenca
Laboratorio de Metabolismo Experimental e Investigación Clínica; División de Investigación Clínica, ISSSTE, Félix Cuevas 540, Col del Valle Sur, Benito Juárez, Ciudad de México, 03229, Mexico
Laboratorio de Investigación Clínica y Ambiental. Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Calle Plan de Ayala s/n, Santo Tomás, Miguel Hidalgo, Ciudad de México, 11340, Mexico
Paul Mondragón-Terán
Coordinación de Investigación y División de Investigación Biomédica, ISSSTE, Félix Cuevas 540, Col del Valle Sur, Benito Juárez, Ciudad de México, 03229, Mexico
Cecilia Hernández-Cortez
Laboratorio de Bioquímica Microbiana, Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Calle Plan de Ayala s/n, Santo Tomás, Miguel Hidalgo, Ciudad de México, 11340, Mexico
Sergio Sandoval-Jiménez
Laboratorio de Metabolismo Experimental e Investigación Clínica; División de Investigación Clínica, ISSSTE, Félix Cuevas 540, Col del Valle Sur, Benito Juárez, Ciudad de México, 03229, Mexico
Juan Rodríguez-Silverio
Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Miguel Hidalgo, Ciudad de México, 11340, Mexico
Laboratorio de Metabolismo Experimental e Investigación Clínica; División de Investigación Clínica, ISSSTE, Félix Cuevas 540, Col del Valle Sur, Benito Juárez, Ciudad de México, 03229, Mexico
Background: Fecal calprotectin (FC) can be a valuable tool to optimize health care for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The objective of this observational study was to determine the level of knowledge of the FC test in Mexican patients with IBD. Methods: A self-report questionnaire was distributed via Facebook to patients with IBD. The survey consisted of 15 questions in two categories: the first category assessed knowledge of IBD diagnosis, and the second category assessed knowledge of the FC test. Results: In total, 460 patients with IBD participated, of which 83.9% (386) had ulcerative colitis (UC) and 16.0% (74) had Crohn’s disease (CD). Regarding IBD diagnosis, 41.9% of participants stated that they did not know of a non-invasive test for fecal matter to identify inflammation of the colon. Regarding the FC test, 57.5% (UC) and 58.1% (CD) stated that they did not know about the test. Additionally, 65.8% (UC) and 51.3% (CD) of participants stated that they had never received the FC test and 82.6% (UC) and 77.0% (CD) recognized that the FC test was difficult to access in their medical practice. Furthermore, 66% (UC) and 52.7% (CD) of participants noted that their specialist doctor had never suggested the FC test to them, yet 89.1% (UC) and 87.8% (CD) stated that they would prefer FC analysis for their IBD follow-up assessments. Conclusions: There is little knowledge of the FC biomarker among Mexican patients with IBD. This suggests the need for greater dissemination of its use and scope as a biomarker in IBD.
