300 Results Study cohort characteristics are shown in Table 2. Crohn’s disease (CD) patients with low fecal calprotectin levels (n = 25) had a mean age of 44.1 ± 13.3 years and consisted of 8 males (32.0%) and 17 females (68.0%), while patients with increased fecal calprotectin levels (n = 35) had a mean age of 40.5 ± 12.2 years and consisted of 10 males (28.6%) and 25 females (71.4%). Patients with increased levels of fecal calprotectin showed significantly elevated white blood cell counts (WBC) (P < 0.05) and erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR) (P < 0.05). CD patients with an increased level of fecal calprotectin had a significantly lower alcohol consumption as compared to CD patients with low fecal calprotectin levels (P < 0.01). No significant differences were observed for any other cohort characteristic. Also, clinical disease activity, as measured by the Harvey-Bradshaw Index (HBI), was not significantly different between patients with either low or increased fecal calprotectin levels. In the total study cohort, median HBI score was 3 (IQR: 1 – 5), indicating that the majority of patients were in clinical remission at the time of inclusion. Table 2 | Characteristics of Crohn’s disease patients (n = 60) with fecal calprotectin levels indicative of remissive disease (< 100 μg/g) and increased disease activity (> 100 μg/g). Data are presented as numbers (n (%)), mean ± SD or median [IQR].† Chapter 9 Table 2. Characteristics of Crohn’s disease patients (n = 60) with fecal calprotectin levels indicative of remissive disease (< 100 μg/g) and increased disease activity (> 100 μg/g). Data are presented as numbers (n (%)), mean ± SD or median [IQR].† Characteristics FC < 100 μg/g (n = 25) FC > 100 μg/g (n = 35) P-value Age (years) 44.1 ± 13.3 40.5 ± 12.2 0.431 Male gender 8 (32.0) 10 (28.6) 0.783 BMI (kg/m2) 25.6 ± 4.5 24.3 ± 5.4 0.233 Active smoking 5 (20.0) 7 (20.0) 1.000 Alcohol consumption (g/day) 3.6 [0.9;11.1] 0.8 [0.1;2.6] 0.009** Ileocecal resection 11 (44.0) 13 (37.1) 0.606 HBI 0.313 Remission (< 5) 17 (68.0) 25 (71.4) Mild disease (5 – 7) 6 (24.0) 4 (11.4) Moderate disease (8 – 12) 2 (8.0) 6 (17.1) Maintenance medication 0.936 None 7 (28.0) 8 (22.9) Thiopurines 5 (20.0) 9 (25.7) Mesalamine 3 (12.0) 6 (17.1) TNF-antagonists 7 (28.0) 9 (25.7) Combination therapy 3 (12.0) 3 (8.6) Montreal, Age at diagnosis 0.397 A1 (< 17 yr) 4 (16.0) 5 (14.3) A2 (17 – 40 yr) 15 (60.0) 26 (74.3) A3 (> 40 yr) 6 (24.0) 4 (11.4) Montreal, Localization 0.476 L1 (ileal) 12 (48.0) 12 (34.3) L2 (colonic) 4 (16.0) 5 (14.3) L3 (ileocolonic) 9 (36.0) 18 (51.4) Montreal, Behavior 0.642 B1 (non-stricturing, nonpenetrating) 11 (44.0) 18 (51.4) B2 (stricturing) 9 (36.0) 13 (37.1) B3 (penetrating) 5 (20.0) 4 (11.4) Laboratory values CRP (mg/L) 0.9 [0.5;3.3] 2.6 [0.9;5.0] 0.052 ESR (mm/h) 8.0 [3.0;18.0] 13.0 [9.0;27.0] 0.028* WBC (x109/l) 6.4 ± 1.6 7.8 ± 2.2 0.013* <0.001***
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