Evaluation of Serum Calprotectin Levels in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

Background: Fecal calprotectin has been proposed as a useful biomarker of disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the role of calprotectin in systemic circulation is not well established. Thus, this study aimed to quantify serum calprotectin levels to identify a potential inflammatory marker for IBD. Methods: Ninety-eight patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 105 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) were prospectively enrolled and clinically scored. Ninety-two healthy, age-matched subjects served as controls. Blood samples from UC and CD patients and controls were analyzed for serum calprotectin levels and routine laboratory parameters. Disease activity was assessed by partial Mayo score and Harvey-Bradshaw index for UC and CD, respectively. Results: Serum calprotectin levels were higher in CD and UC patients than in controls and were higher during active disease than during inactive disease in CD but not in UC. In UC, serum calprotectin levels were correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP) but not with other laboratory parameters or disease activity. In CD, serum calprotectin levels were positively correlated with disease activity, serum CRP, and platelet count. In UC and CD, serum calprotectin and CRP levels increased during the acute phase and decreased towards remission. Conclusions: Serum calprotectin is an inflammatory marker in IBD but might be more effective in evaluating patients with CD than those with UC. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and to better determine the specific uses of serum calprotectin in routine practice.

Diagnostic performance of serum calprotectin in discriminating active from inactive ulcerative colitis in an outpatient setting

“…Systemic inflammatory biomarkers, including sCp, were similar in clinically active and inactive UC, consistent with a study reporting similar sCp levels in active and inactive UC. 18 Compared to fCp (AUC 0.85), ROC curve analysis confirmed the poorer diagnostic performance of systemic inflammatory biomarkers in discriminating between active and inactive UC, including both sCp assays (AUC 0.61) and of these sCRP (AUC 0.69) performed best consistent with previous studies. 3,11 In addition, fCp correlated weakly with both sCp assays and sCRP and not at all with platelets.…”

Pursuing neutrophils: systematic scoping review on blood-based biomarkers as predictors of treatment outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease

“…62 SC is increased in IBD and distinguishes active from inactive disease in CD, but perhaps not in UC. 35,37,63 Although we found mixed results regarding its predictive ability for disease complications and treatment outcomes, lower levels of SC were generally associated with better future outcomes. 27,[36][37][38] Circulating eNAMPT (visfatin) is predominantly produced and secreted by granulocytes.…”

Serum Calprotectin and B-cell activating factor are potential biomarkers for <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> infection

“…Several studies have looked at fecal CALP as a good inflammatory marker for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). 6,7,15,16 In addition, several researchers discovered a link between fecal CALP and H. pylori infection. 17,18,19 However, no studies have reported the relationship between serum CALP and H. pylori infection.…”

“…CALP transduces its inflammatory signaling and plays its role by binding to its receptors on the cell surface, triggering signal transductions via activation of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-kB) transcription factor and Mitogen-Activated Protein 9 Kinases (MAPKs) pathway that induces leukocyte migration and inflammatory cytokine production in inflammatory regions. 6,15 Because serum CALP is a viable blood-based biomarker that is more practical in everyday clinical practice and more acceptable for patients, it has attracted increased interest as a biomarker for IBD. 6 Studies accomplished by Kalla et al 7 and Daniluk et al 21 Colitis (ASUC).…”