LACTOFERRIN

Lactoferrin is a glycoprotein component of neutrophil secondary granules, a primary component of the acute inflammatory response, and is released from fecal leukocytes. This protein is resistant to proteolysis in the feces and may serve as a marker of inflammation in the intestine. The major cause of fecal neutrophils in patients with chronic diarrhea is chronic inflammatory bowel disease of the colon (i.e., Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis). Non infections inflammatory diarrhoea may be seen in ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s Disease.

Lactoferrin has been studied as a predictor of infection with invasive enteropathogens in children with diarrhoea. Bacterial inflammatory diarrhea may be caused by Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Clostridium difficile.

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