Evaluation of serum calprotectin as a marker of activity in patients with alopecia areata

Abstract

Background: The course of alopecia areata (AA) is unpredictable with periods of activity and periods of remission. Active alopecia areata usually require more aggressive treatment to stop disease progression. Calprotectin is a promising marker of inflammation that could predict a serological relapse before a clinical one in several inflammatory diseases.
Objective: To estimate calprotectin level in the serum of alopecia areata patients and detection of the relation between serum calprotectin and activity in alopecia areata.
Subjects and methods: Sixty subjects were included in this study, 20 patients with active AA, 20 patients with stable AA and 20 controls. Serum calprotectin levels were measured in the 3 groups by using ELISA.
Results: Serum calprotectin level was higher in AA patients than in controls but with no statistically significant difference. Active alopecia areata patients had higher serum calprotectin than those with stable alopecia areata but the difference wasn't statistically significant.
Conclusion: Although calprotectin is a marker of inflammation in many different inflammatory disorders, its serum level was not a predictor for activity in AA patients.