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The clinical utility of biomarkers and the nonalcoholic steatohepatitis CRN liver biopsy scoring system in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Author(s) -
Malik Raza,
Chang Michael,
Bhaskar Killimangalam,
Nasser Imad,
Curry Michael,
Schuppan Detlef,
Byrnes Valerie,
Afdhal Nezam
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2008.05731.x
Subject(s) - medicine , nonalcoholic fatty liver disease , gastroenterology , liver biopsy , fibrosis , steatohepatitis , biomarker , steatosis , fatty liver , cohort , body mass index , biopsy , diabetes mellitus , liver disease , nonalcoholic steatohepatitis , pathology , disease , endocrinology , biochemistry , chemistry
Background and Aims: We identified patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to determine the predictive value of serum markers to diagnose histological steatohepatitis (NASH). Methods: Demographic, serological, radiological and histological variables on 95 consecutive patients with NAFLD were recorded. The serum markers studied were CK18, Hyaluronic acid, TIMP 1 and YKL 40. The NAS score and the metavir score were the histological scoring systems used. Results: CK18 levels were higher in the NASH group compared to the simple steatosis group (394 ± 53 µ/L vs 194 ± 26 µ/L; P < 0.05). In assessing clinical effectiveness, CK18 yielded an AUC of 0.8 for NASH (cut‐off value 300 µ/L gives PPV 81% and NPV 85%).The fibrosis markers showed no differences between groups. We stratified the same cohort according to liver fibrosis (F0 vs F1–F4). Fibrosis was associated with advanced age, high body mass index and type 2 diabetes. The biomarkers performed relatively poorly at identifying liver fibrosis (F1–F4), with HA performing the best (AUC 0.73); performance improved for advanced fibrosis (F3/F4) ‐ (HA: AUC 0.77). The NAS score performed the best overall at identifying liver fibrosis (AUC 0.79). Discussion: CK18 is the only biomarker studied that can identify NASH. Additionally, liver biopsy should be performed in all high risk patients to determine the standardised NAS score to identify patients at high risk of disease progression.