I-FABP Celiac Disease
Celiac disease I-FABP blood test (IFABP serum)
Celiac disease is a type of autoimmune disease in which people, who have a genetic predisposition to it, become ill from gluten. A major problem in diagnosing the coeliac condition is the lack of a method of making the diagnosis without the need for surgery (intestinal biopsy). We can demonstrate celiac disease through specific antibodies. This is a good method of screening patients for the condition, but it does not provide insight into the intestinal damage that is present and is only sufficient to confirm the diagnosis in a small group of celiac patients.
The remaining patients currently require an intestinal biopsy. Taking such a colon biopsy by endoscopy is a burdensome examination for patients. In addition, no sensitive test exists to evaluate intestinal recovery after gluten elimination. Intestinal Fatty Acid Binding Protein (I-FABP), is a sensitive marker for intestinal damage.
This test can:
1) Done as an additional test for celiac antibodies, for the diagnosis of celiac disease
2) For evaluating the effect of omitting gluten from the diet and measuring intestinal recovery are used.
The probability that a patient with positive celiac antibodies and an elevated I-FABP concentration has celiac disease is extremely high. Addition of this non-invasive marker to the existing celiac disease guideline would greatly reduce the number of duodenal biopsies currently required to confirm the diagnosis, resulting in a commensurate cost savings per newly diagnosed patient. In addition, I-FABP concentrations decreased rapidly after the start of the gluten-free diet and normalized relatively faster than the current marker tTG-IgA for tracking celiac activity. That is, I-FABP concentrations are useful for diagnosis and for monitoring celiac activity after treatment.
On this subject, the study I-FABP; small protein with big impact on clinical management of celiac disease was recently published.
The analysis time for this specialized test can be 2 weeks.
I-FABP (Intestinal Fatty Acid Binding Protein) is a protein produced in intestinal cells and is involved in the absorption and transport of fatty acids and other fat-soluble substances in the intestine. The concentration of I-FABP in the blood can be used as a biomarker for intestinal damage or ischemia.
With intestinal damage or ischemia, the I-FABP protein is released from the damaged intestinal cells into the bloodstream. By measuring the concentration of I-FABP in the blood, it can be determined whether intestinal damage or ischemia is present. This can be used as a diagnostic tool for conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, ischemic colitis, intestinal obstruction and necrotizing enterocolitis in infants.
The concentration of I-FABP in the blood is measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The use of I-FABP as a biomarker can help in the early detection of intestinal injury or ischemia, allowing for prompt initiation of treatment and reducing the severity of the condition.
