Caspase-cleaved fragments of cytokeratin-18 as a marker of inflammatory activity in chronic hepatitis B virus infection

BACKGROUND: The differential diagnosis between inactive carrier and active hepatitis is important in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) virus infection. Serum cytokeratin (CK)-18 fragments (M30 antigen) are proposed as biomarkers of apoptosis. We investigated whether serum M30 levels might help to characterize the various phases of CHB and predict the state of significant inflammation in patients with CHB. METHODS: A total of 339 CHB patients who underwent liver biopsy, were included. Serum M30 antigen levels were compared with inactive carriers (n=36), patients with HBeAg- negative hepatitis (n=80), HBeAg-positive hepatitis (n=141) and liver cirrhosis (n=82). RESULTS: Serum M30 antigen levels were correlated significantly not only with ALT (r=0.315, p<0.001) and AST (r=0.544, p<0.001), but also inflammatory grading score on liver biopsy (r=0.240, p<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that AST (P<0.001), M30-antigen (P=0.020) and albumin (P=0.009) were the independent predictors of significant inflammation. The area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic plot for the detection of significant inflammation of serum AST, M30-antigen and ALT levels were 0.872, 0.795 and 0.758 respectively. Combined serum M30 level (>344 U/L) and AST (>78 IU/L) measurements provided the most accurate identification of significant inflammation, showing 38.2% sensitivity, 96.1% specificity, 91.0% positive predictive value and 56.1% negative predictive value. We did not detect any significant differences in serum M30 levels between inactive HBV carrier and HBeAg-negative CHB. CONCLUSIONS: CK-18 fragment levels are correlated with liver inflammation and serum M30 levels are associated with the presence of significant inflammation in patients with CHB.

Author dc:creator

• 배, 창범

Contributors dc:contributor

• 정, 재연
• 대학원 의학과
• 105209

• apoptosis
• chronic hepatitis B
• cytokeratin-18
• significant inflammation
• 세포 자멸
• 만성 B형 간염
• cytokeratin-18 분절
• 중요한 염증 반응

Language dc:language

en

Identifier

http://dcoll.ajou.ac.kr:9080/dcollection/jsp/common/DcLoOrgPer.jsp?sItemId=000000013380
000000013380

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.ajou.ac.kr:201003/8621