Serum calprotectin in Behcet's disease

Objective: to assess the level of serum calprotectin (CLP) in Behcet's disease (BD). Material and methods . The study included 90 patients with BD (35 women and 55 men) and 30 healthy controls (22 women and 8 men). The mean age of the BD patients was 32 [26; 37] years, that of the control subjects was 30 [25; 37] years. Serum CLP levels were measured with an enzyme immunoassay using a reagent kit from Bulhmann Laboratories AG (Switzerland). Results and discussion. CLP levels were statistically significantly higher in patients with BD compared to healthy controls (median 4.08 [2.81; 7.25] vs. 2.86 [2.15; 3.92] μg/ml; p=0.003). Elevated serum CLP levels were found in 23 (26%) of the 90 patients with BD. Patients with high CLP levels were more likely to have active uveitis (odds ratio, OR 4.741; p=0.011), pustulosis (OR 3.41; p=0.044), arthritis (OR 13.89; p=0.014) and high BD activity (OR 3.195; p=0.029). A direct correlation was found between CLP level and BDCAF activity index (rs=0.415, p<0.0001), CRP (rs=0.466, p <0.0001) and ESR (rs=0.357, p=0.001). Conclusion. Serum CLP levels are elevated in patients with BD and are associated with high disease activity, active uveitis, pustulosis and arthritis.