title: [Plasma calprotectin. A new prognostic marker of survival in alcoholic liver cirrhosis].
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine plasma concentrations of calprotectin in patients with different severity of alcoholic cirrhosis. Additionally, the prognostic value of calprotectin for recurrent infections and for survival was investigated after a median observation period of 19 months. No difference was found in calprotectin levels when comparing healthy controls (n = 16), compensated (n = 50) and decompensated cirrhotics (n = 34). However, high calprotectin concentrations (> median) was a significant prognostic marker of poor survival (p = 0.001, Log-rank test). Calprotectin levels (> median) showed an independent and much higher prognostic value than variables of liver disease (multivariate Cox model). During follow-up calprotectin levels (> median) were also a predictor of recurrent infection (p = 0.009, Log-rank test). Thus, in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, plasma calprotectin appears to be a new prognostic marker of survival, which seems independent of severity of liver disease. Furthermore, high plasma calprotectin levels may characterize a group of cirrhotics with recurring bacterial infections.
authors.affiliation: Medicinsk afdeling B, Bispebjerg Hospital, København.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Homann
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garred
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Graudal
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hasselqvist
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Fagerhol
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Thomsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000032:analysis; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D001798:Blood Proteins; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules
vernacular_title: Plasmacalprotektin. En ny prognostisk markør for overlevelse ved alkoholisk levercirrose.