Simple and rapid detection of liver cirrhosis in children by tracking serum IgA/transferrin ratio

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the level of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and transferrin of children patients with liver cirrhosis to determine the relation between liver cirrhosis and IgA/transferrin ratio. Methods: The study involved 32 children classified into liver patients without cirrhosis (n=12), and liver patients with cirrhosis (n=10) as well as a group of normal healthy children (n=10) for comparison. In all of these subjects, serum alanine (ALT) and aspartate (AST) aminotransferase activity, as well as serum IgA and transferrin level, were also determined. Results: Our results revealed that the mean values of both ALT and AST activities were significantly high in both groups of patients with and without liver cirrhosis; the activity of both enzymes was relatively higher in patients with liver cirrhosis than in those without liver cirrhosis. Furthermore, the amount of IgA showed very significant decreased values in patients without liver cirrhosis while highly significant increased values were obtained in cirrhotic patients as compared to their corresponding values in normal group. The concentration of serum transferrin showed insignificant values in cases without liver cirrhosis, while it showed moderately significant decreased levels in cases of liver cirrhosis. Although the values of IgA/transferrin ratio showed insignificant values in patients without liver cirrhosis, these values were significantly high in cirrhotic patients. In addition, it has been found that in liver cirrhotic patients the mean values of IgA/transferrin ratio nearly reached 2.5 as compared to the ratios in normal or non-cirrhotic patients. Conclusions: From the present study we have postulated that the determination of IgA and transferrin in serum or plasma may open up a very simple and safe means for the early detection of latent cirrhosis. The value of IgA/transferrin >2.5 ratio was found to be a highly significant increase in latent cirrhosis as compared to children without cirrhosis or in normal children. This value can be considered as an indicator of latent cirrhosis in children.