A proinflammatory marker in chronic rhinosinusitis: serum calprotectin

Abstract

Introduction: Studies have shown that calprotectin has a strong pro-inflammatory effect. Elevated calprotectin levels in the serum can be used as a strong clinical marker indicating the presence of inflammation. Objective: To investigate serum calprotectin levels in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and to determine the applicability of calprotectin as a potential molecular pro-inflammatory biomarker for CRS. Methods: The study consisted of three groups: chronic rhinosinusitis with polyps (CRSwNP group), chronic rhinosinusitis without polyps (CRSwoNP), and healthy control. CRS patients with polyps were further divided into two groups depending on the presence/absence of Samter’s triad. The Nose Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale score and serum calprotectin value were evaluated in all participants. Results: The mean serum calprotectin value was 79.5±11.8 ng/ml for the CRSwNP group, 71.3±16 ng/ml for the CRSwoNP group, and 61.9±11.6 ng/ml for the control group (p<0.001). The Samter’s triad group had a significantly higher calprotectin value than the non-Samter’s triad group (p=0.03). There was a significant correlation between the NOSE scores and calprotectin levels (rho=0.734, p<0.001). Conclusion: Serum calprotectin values were correlated with the severity of symptoms in patients with CRS; thus, it seems to be a valuable pro-inflammatory biomarker for the diagnosis of the disease and determining its severity. Further studies with larger series are needed to evaluate the preoperative and postoperative serum calprotectin values ​​in patients undergoing surgery.