Decreased calprotectin predicted EULAR treatment response

Decreased levels of calprotectin S100A8/A9 in the first month was predictive of EULAR response after 1 year, according to results of a recently published study.

Hilde Haugedal Nordal, MD, in the Department of Clinical Science at the University of Bergen, and colleagues assessed the associations between calprotectin S100A8/A9, calprotectin S100A12, vascular endothelial growth factor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and an ultrasound assessment of 36 joints and four tendon sheaths in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who initiated treatment with a biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug. Researchers looked at 141 patients at 1-month, 2-months, 3-months, 6-months and 12-months post-drug initiation. In addition, they calculated EULAR response and scored ultrasound on a scale from zero to three.

Researchers found calprotectin had the strongest associations with both ultrasound sum scores and swollen joint counts. The association with ultrasound sum scores remained after adjustment for age, sex and disease duration at baseline. In addition, decreased calprotectin in the first month predicted EULAR response and decreased sum power Doppler scores at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months.

Calprotectin can be considered as a marker for evaluation of inflammation and responsiveness in patients with RA treated with biologics, the researchers wrote. – by Will Offit

Disclosures: Nordal reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other disclosures.