Elevated plasma levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide in individuals with rosacea: A cross-sectional case–control study

Abstract

Background: Understanding the role of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the pathogenesis of rosacea might provide new therapeutic avenues for individuals with this disease. Objective: To compare plasma levels of CGRP between individuals with rosacea and healthy controls. Methods: In this cross-sectional case–control study conducted in Copenhagen, Denmark, we collected blood samples from the antecubital vein from adults with rosacea and from healthy controls. Results: We enrolled 123 individuals with rosacea and 68 healthy controls. After adjusting for age and sex, plasma levels of CGRP were significantly higher in individuals with rosacea (mean, 95% confidence interval: 140.21 pmol/L, 128.50–151.92 pmol/L), compared with controls (110.77 pmol/L, 99.91–120.14 pmol/L, p = 0.002). Plasma levels of CGRP were not affected by age, sex, BMI, concomitant migraine, rosacea sub- or phenotype, concomitant disease or current treatment. Limitations: Participants were not age-, sex- and BMI-matched. Conclusions and Relevance: Elevated plasma levels of CGRP in individuals with rosacea suggest a role of CGRP in the pathogenesis of rosacea. Targeting CGRP signalling might hold therapeutic promise in people affected by this disease. Clinicaltrials.gov listing: NCT03872050.