Kawanaka M, Nishino K, Nakamura J, Urata N, Oka T, Goto D, Suehiro M, Kawamoto H, Yamada G

Language: English
References: 23
Page: 837-844
PDF size: 135.01 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Background. Diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is limited by the need for liver biopsies. Serum cytokeratin 18 (CK-18) levels have been investigated as potential biomarkers for the presence of NAFLD and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Herein, we assessed the correlation between CK-18 levels and NAFLD progression. Material and methods. Serum CK-18 levels were estimated using the M30 antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 147 patients diagnosed with NAFLD. In 72 patients, disease progression was evaluated by repeated liver biopsy, which was conducted after 4.3 ± 2.6 years. The relationship between the CK-18 levels and liver histological findings was assessed. Results. The CK-18 levels were useful for identifying NAFLD patients with NAFLD activity scores (NAS) ≥ 5 (NAS ≥ 5 vs. ≤ 4: 675.1 U/L vs. 348.7 U/L; p ‹ 0.0001). A cut-off value of 375 U/L was calculated using the receiver operating characteristic curve approach, with a specificity and sensitivity of 81.5 and 65%, respectively, for the diagnosis of NASH. Among the 72 patients who underwent repeated liver biopsy, 11 patients with a progressed NAS also had significantly increased serum CK-18 levels (p ‹ 0.01); in 30 patients with an improved NAS, there was a significant improvement in the mean CK-18 levels (p ‹ 0.0001). The 31 patients with static NAS had static CK-18 levels. Conclusions. In conclusion, serum CK-18 levels can predict NAS ≥ 5 in NAFLD patients. In NAFLD patients, serum CK-18 levels reflect NAS values and correlate with histological changes, and they appear to be useful indicators of progression and improvement.

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