Plasmacalprotektin. En ny prognostisk markør for overlevelse ved alkoholisk levercirrose

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.