Relationship Between Increased Fecal Calprotectin Levels and Interstitial Lung Disease in Systemic Sclerosis

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between fecal calprotectin (FC) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) in systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: The study enrolled 129 outpatients with SSc. Data about disease characteristics, in particular lung involvement, were collected and FC was measured. RESULTS: Patients with ILD (35, 27.1%) had higher values of FC (p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, these variables were associated with increased risk of ILD: diffuse disease subset, higher modified Rodnan skin score, longer disease duration, higher severity scores, steroid treatment, and higher FC levels, while diverticulosis was protective. CONCLUSION: ILD is independently associated with increased FC levels in SSc.