Journal article

Publication year: 2011

Pages: 1369-1380

Journal: Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology

Volume number: 46

Issue number: 11

ISSN: 0036-5521

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.3109/00365521.2011.613949

Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group

Abstract: 
Objective. Transient elastography (TE) is a non-invasive and accurate method for the diagnosis of severe hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis (F = 3 and F = 4). However, the assessment of significant fibrosis (F = 2) by TE is impaired due to a high variation in the diagnostic accuracy. Within this study, we aim to compare the diagnostic value of TE and experimental biomarkers of liver fibrosis. Material and methods. A total of 55 patients with chronic liver disease of different etiologies were included in the study. Among them, patients with HCV infection represented the largest cohort (n = 25). Liver fibrosis was evaluated according to the Desmet/Scheuer score. All patients received TE. Serum concentrations of YKL-40, hyaluronic acid (HA), Laminin, C-terminal procollagen I peptide, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 complex were determined by ELISA. Results. In the total patient population, areas under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC) for TE were 0.798 (F >= 2), 0.880 (F >= 3) and 1 (F = 4). Among the serum markers, highest diagnostic accuracies were calculated for YKL-40 for F >= 2 (0.792) and F >= 3 (0.914) and for YKL-40 and HA for F = 4 (both 0.936). In the subgroup of HCV patients, the following AUROCs for TE were calculated: 0.802 (F >= 2), 0.798 (F >= 3) and 0.998 (F = 4). YKL-40 exhibited the highest diagnostic accuracy of all biomarkers in the HCV population (0.880, 0.854 and 0.986, respectively). Conclusions. YKL-40 is a powerful fibrosis marker with high diagnostic accuracy, in particular in HCV-associated liver disease. Its determination may confirm and improve the diagnostic accuracy of TE especially in early stages of liver fibrosis.

Harvard Citation style: Rath, T., Roderfeld, M., Gueler, C., Wenzel, C., Graf, J., Beitinger, F., et al. (2011) YKL-40 and transient elastography, a powerful team to assess hepatic fibrosis, Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 46(11), pp. 1369-1380. https://doi.org/10.3109/00365521.2011.613949

APA Citation style: Rath, T., Roderfeld, M., Gueler, C., Wenzel, C., Graf, J., Beitinger, F., Roeb, E., & Zachoval, R. (2011). YKL-40 and transient elastography, a powerful team to assess hepatic fibrosis. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. 46(11), 1369-1380. https://doi.org/10.3109/00365521.2011.613949