Decreased fecal calprotectin levels in Spondyloarthritis patients colonized by Blastocystis spp.

Abstract

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of chronic inflammatory systemic diseases mainly characterized by inflammation in the spine and/or peripheral joints. Although a link between SpA-pathogenesis, intestinal inflammation and gut dysbiosis has been proposed, studies have been focused on bacteria-host interactions and very little has been reported regarding intestinal parasites. Here, intestinal parasitic infection of 51 SpA-patients were evaluated and compared to healthy control individuals. No significant differences in the frequency of any parasite between SpA-patients and control individuals were found. Significantly higher levels of fecal calprotectin (FCP) were found in the SpA-patients compared to the control individuals. However, FCP levels were the same when comparing SpA-patients and control individuals, both colonized by Blastocystis spp. On the other hand, when comparing Blastocystis spp. colonized and Blastocystis spp. free SpA-patients, FCP levels were significantly higher in those Blastocystis spp. free. Without ignoring the small sample size as a study limitation, the results showed that in the SpA-patients colonized by Blastocystis spp., the FCP levels were significantly lower than those in the Blastocystis spp. free group and comparable to those in the control group. These findings seem to suggest a relationship between Blastocystis spp. and intestinal inflammation in SpA-patients, but studies intended to explore that interaction specifically should be designed.