ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Acne vulgaris (AV) is a common inflammatory skin disease involving dysfunction of the pilosebaceous unit. Many mechanisms for the pathogenesis of acne have been postulated; however, the precise pathogenesis is still uncertain. AIM: Evaluation of the level of serum calprotectin in patients with AV and its correlation with the different clinical variables of the disease, particularly severity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a case-control study that included ninety subjects who were subdivided into two groups; group I, which included sixty patients complaining of AV with different grades of severity, and group II that included thirty apparent healthy age and sex-matched participants as a control group. Severity of AV was determined according to the Global Acne Grading System (GAGS). Serum calprotectin level was measured in both patients and controls by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. RESULTS: A highly statistically significant difference in the serum calprotectin level was found between patients with AV and control subjects. A highly significant positive correlation was found between the serum calprotectin levels and the severity of acne. Similarly, a significant positive correlation was found between serum calprotectin levels and the duration of the disease. CONCLUSION: Serum calprotectin levels are increased in acne patients and are positively correlated with its severity.
