Abstract
BackgroundApproximately 20–45% of the population around the world are affected by nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and it is the liver pandemic in the 21st century. It has become a leading cause of end-stage liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver transplantation in many regions of the world. Noninvasive markers are needed for assessment of patients with NAFLD.ObjectiveEvaluation of serum cytokeratin 18 (CK18) as a noninvasive marker of NAFLD and its correlation with fibro touch elastography.Patients and methodsA case–control study was conducted on 90 participants, and they were divided into three groups: group I included 30 matched healthy controls, group II included 30 patients with NAFLD diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography with normal liver enzymes, and group III included 30 patients with NAFLD diagnosed by ultrasonography with elevated liver enzymes. Abdominal ultrasonography and fibro touch transient elastography (TE) were done for all participants.ResultsThere was a highly significant increase in CK18 in group II and group III versus group I and highly significant increase in group III versus group II. The cutoff value of serum CK18 level to differentiate between group I and group II was more than 15.5 ng/ml. The cutoff value of serum CK18 level to differentiate between group II and group III was more than 22.4 ng/ml. The cutoff value of TE to differentiation between group I and group II was more than 241 dB/m. Moreover, the cutoff value of TE to differentiate between group II and group III was more than 286 dB/m.ConclusionCK18 and control attenuation parameter can be used as noninvasive markers of NAFLD and positively correlated with the grades of steatosis.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call