Background: Faecal calprotectin (FCP) has been widely used as a non-invasive marker of intestinal inflammation in children. Measurement of faecal haemoglobin (f-Hb) using faecal immunochemical test (FIT) is well established in adults for detection of colorectal cancer. In adults, f-Hb has been recommended as a reliable tool to aid identification of those at low risk of significant bowel disease and has also been used in inflammatory bowel disease to assess mucosal healing.

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the performance of f-Hb in the paediatric population and compare it with FCP.

Methods: Children being assessed in the paediatric gastroenterology clinic for bowel symptoms had a sample sent for both FCP and f-Hb. Samples were collected over a 10-month period from November 2018 to September 2019. f-Hb was measured using an OC-Sensor. FCP was measured using LiasonCalprotectin.

Results: 143 samples were returned for f-Hb and in 107 a paired FCP was also available. f-Hb correlated with FCP, Spearman’s rank coefficient 0.656 (p<0.0001). There were 35 patients with f-Hb >20 µg/g and in 32 of these patients FCP was >200 µg/g. 74 patients with f-Hb and 38 patients with FCP underwent colonoscopy. Patients with normal histology had f-Hb <4 µg/g; f-Hb >20 µg/g was associated with signification inflammation

Conclusion: Our study is the first to compare f-Hb and FCP in a paediatric population. Results suggest that f-Hb correlates with FCP and, as in adults, may be useful to rule out significant bowel disease. A f-Hb >20 µg/g was consistent with significant histological inflammation.

背景：粪便钙卫蛋白（FCP）已被广泛用作儿童肠道炎症的非侵入性标志物。在成年人中使用粪便免疫化学测试（FIT）来测量粪便血红蛋白（f-Hb）已被广泛用于检测大肠癌。在成人中，已建议将f-Hb作为一种可靠的工具，以帮助鉴定那些处于严重肠病低风险中的人，并且还已用于炎症性肠病中以评估粘膜愈合。

目的：我们旨在评估f-Hb在儿科人群中的表现并将其与FCP进行比较。

方法：在儿科肠胃病诊所接受肠道症状评估的儿童，应同时送出FCP和f-Hb样本。从2018年11月到2019年9月的10个月期间收集了样本。使用OC传感器测量了f-Hb。使用LiasonTM钙卫蛋白测量FCP。

结果：返回了143个f-Hb样品，在107个样品中还提供了配对的FCP。f Hb与FCP，Spearman的秩系数为0.656（p <0.0001）。有35例f-Hb> 20 µg / g，其中32例FCP> 200 µg / g。74例f-Hb患者和38例FCP患者接受了结肠镜检查。组织学正常的患者f-Hb <4 µg / g; f-Hb> 20 µg / g与发炎相关

结论：我们的研究是第一个在儿科人群中比较f-Hb和FCP的研究。结果表明，f-Hb与FCP相关，并且与成人一样，可能有助于排除明显的肠道疾病。f Hb> 20 µg / g与重大的组织学炎症反应是一致的。