Fecal Calprotectin: A Predictive Biomarker for Gastrointestinal Graft-Versushost-Disease and a Prognostic Indicator in Their Steroid Therapy Publisher



E Roshandel ELHAM ; S Parkhideh SAYEH ; M Mohammadian MOZHDEH ; Ss Akhlaghi Sedigheh SADAT ; S Zamani SHAYAN ; Mr Moshari Mohammad REZA ; M Dehghanighorbi MAHMOUD
Source: Annals of Cancer Research and Therapy Published:2024

Abstract

Background: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a promising therapeutic approach with risk of Acute Graft-versus-Host-Disease (aGvHD). aGvHD can affect the gastrointestinal tract, which results in gastrointestinalGvHD (GI-GvHD). We assessed fecal calprotectin (FC) to determine if it can be applied as a GI-GvHD diagnostic marker and the response to steroid therapy. Methods: We measured FC levels in patients who received allo-HSCT from full-matched donors using ELISA. Sample collection was performed prior to HSCT, at the GvHD onset of symptoms, and at intervals of seven days and three weeks following initiating steroid therapy. Results: A total of 25 patients were evaluated. The FC values were significantly higher in GvHD patients than in the control group. The difference between FC values in patients with various stages of GvHD was not statistically significant. The cutoff level of FC for anticipating GI-GvHD onset was 103.5 μg/g with a sensitivity of 46% and specificity of 91.5%. The mean of FC values was significantly higher in steroid-resistant patients than in steroid responder patients. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that FC could be utilized in GI-GvHD diagnosis and predicting its happening risk. FC has high potency in predicting the response to steroid therapy. © 2024 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.