Calprotectin Levels in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Author Information
Author(s): Kristina Sejersen, Tomas Weitoft, Ann Knight, Jörgen Lysholm, Anders Larsson, Johan Rönnelid
Primary Institution: Uppsala University
Hypothesis
Serum calprotectin correlates stronger with inflammation and disease activity in ACPA positive than ACPA negative rheumatoid arthritis.
Conclusion
Serum calprotectin is a better indicator of inflammation in ACPA positive rheumatoid arthritis patients compared to synovial fluid calprotectin.
Supporting Evidence
- Serum calprotectin showed a strong correlation with inflammatory markers and disease activity.
- ACPA positive patients had a markedly stronger correlation with serum calprotectin than ACPA negative patients.
- Measurement of calprotectin in synovial fluid did not provide additional clinical value.
Takeaway
This study found that a protein called calprotectin in the blood is really good at showing how bad the inflammation is in certain arthritis patients, especially those with a specific antibody.
Methodology
The study included 76 RA patients with knee synovitis, measuring serum and synovial fluid levels of calprotectin and correlating them with various inflammatory markers.
Potential Biases
Unequal gender distribution and potential selection bias due to the specific patient population.
Limitations
The study had a cross-sectional design, small sample size, and lacked coverage of younger age groups.
Participant Demographics
76 patients (22% men, 78% women) with a median age of 62 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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