Calprotectin in acne vulgaris: A possible contributory role

Acne vulgaris (AV) is a common inflammatory skin disease involving dysfunction of the pilosebaceous unit. Many mechanisms for the pathogenesis of acne have been postulated; however, the precise pathogenesis is still uncertain.

Evaluation of the level of serum calprotectin in patients with AV and its correlation with the different clinical variables of the disease, particularly severity.

This is a case-control study that included ninety subjects who were subdivided into two groups; group I, which included sixty patients complaining of AV with different grades of severity, and group II that included thirty apparent healthy age and sex-matched participants as a control group. Severity of AV was determined according to the Global Acne Grading System (GAGS). Serum calprotectin level was measured in both patients and controls by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.

A highly statistically significant difference in the serum calprotectin level was found between patients with AV and control subjects. A highly significant positive correlation was found between the serum calprotectin levels and the severity of acne. Similarly, a significant positive correlation was found between serum calprotectin levels and the duration of the disease.

Serum calprotectin levels are increased in acne patients and are positively correlated with its severity.