Diagnostic Value of Changes in Serum Calprotectin Level and Patients' Sputum in Response to Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis Exacerbation in Children

Background Today few studies have focused on using calprotectin as an effective biomarker for monitoring the exacerbation of pulmonary complications in cystic fibrosis (CF). Thus, the present study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of the changes in the calprotectin level of patient's serum and sputum during responding to the therapy of exacerbated CF in children. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted among ۲۱ CF patients, which received required supportive and therapeutic procedures based on the protocol related to pulmonology ward in the Children Medical Research and Training Center of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. The sputum and serum samples of all patients were collected to evaluate calprotectin level at ۱-۲ days after starting therapy with routine antibiotics such as cephalosporin and macrolides, and they were again gathered at the end of therapy process. Results: Assessing outcome in ۲۱ patients under study represented complete and partial recovery in ۱۲ (۵۷.۲%), and ۹ (۴۲.۸%) ones, respectively. The mean decrease in calprotectin level in the serum and sputum of the patients was respectively obtained as ۴۰.۷۲۸۹.۰۸ μg/ml and ۹۹.۰۳۲۲۵.۹۴ μg/ml. The calprotectin decrease in serum with the cutoff point of ۱۵.۷۰ μg/ml possessed the sensitivity of ۶۶.۷% and specificity of ۵۵.۶% in predicting complete recovery outcome; while that of sputum with the cutoff point of ۲۶.۲۰ μg/ml had the sensitivity and specificity of ۶۶.۷ and ۲۲.۲%, respectively. Conclusion The mean age of participants were ۸.۶۱±۴.۱۹ years. It can be concluded that serum and sputum calprotectin decrease with cutoff point of ۱۵.۷۰ μg/ml and ۲۶.۲۰ μg/ml, respectively in have high sensitivity for determining response to treatment in cystic fibrosis exacerbation.