title: Fecal but not serum calprotectin is a potential marker of GVHD after stem cell transplantation.
abstract: Gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) represents a life-threatening complication after stem cell transplantation. Differential diagnosis between gut GvHD and other causes of diarrhea after HSCT is still subjected to endoscopy and histological findings. The research for a reliable biomarker for gut GvHD might allow an early diagnosis of this condition and a consequent prompt treatment that could reduce unfavorable outcomes. Recently, fecal calprotectin was reported as reliable marker of gut involvement. We would evaluate if serum instead of fecal calprotectin could be considered a possible biomarker of gut GvHD. Serum calprotectin was measured in a cohort of 54 patients submitted to allogeneic stem cell transplantation using ELISA assay. For a subset of 21 patients, calprotectin serum levels were compared with fecal calprotectin detection. Contrary to fecal calprotectin, we found only a trend to high level of serum calprotectin for GvHD development and gut involvement, but statistical difference was not reached. Fecal but not serum calprotectin could be considered as possible biomarker for gut GvHD.
authors.affiliation: Hematology Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Rome, Italy.|Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Metafuni
authors.affiliation: Hematology Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Rome, Italy.|Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giammarco
authors.affiliation: Hematology Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Rome, Italy.|Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela Giovanna
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: De Ritis
authors.affiliation: Hematology Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Rome, Italy.|Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Rome, Italy.|Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: De Michele
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Rome, Italy.|Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zuppi
authors.affiliation: Hematology Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Rome, Italy.|Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Bacigalupo
authors.affiliation: Hematology Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Rome, Italy. simona.sica@unicatt.it.|Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy. simona.sica@unicatt.it.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sica
authors.affiliation: Hematology Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Rome, Italy.|Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chiusolo
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex
keywords: Biomarkers; Calprotectin; GvHD; Hematological disease; Stem cell transplantation