Serum cystatin C: a non-invasive marker of liver fibrosis or of current liver fibrogenesis in chronic hepatitis C?
Journal Title: Annals of Hepatology - Year 2012, Vol 11, Issue 5
Abstract
Background. Serum levels of cystatin C, an endogenous inhibitor of cysteine proteases, provide an alternative method to creatinine-based criteria for measuring glomerular filtration rate. Preliminary data suggested that serum cystatin C levels parallel with the stage of liver fibrosis in chronic liver disorders. Our aim has been to evaluate the possible role of serum cystatin C as a marker of liver fibrosis in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced chronic liver disease. Material and methods. 100 consecutive patients (56 men, mean age 51.2 ± 9.5 yrs) with HCV-induced chronic liver disease, scheduled for their first liver biopsy and naïve for antiviral therapy were included. Liver fibrosis was evaluated with the METAVIR score. Serum cystatin C and standard laboratory tests were measured simultaneously. Patients with ethanol abuse (> 50 g/day), HBV orHIV coinfection or plasma creatinine ≥ 1.20 mg/dL were excluded. In addition, a second group of 16 patients fulfilling the same requisites and diagnosed with HCV-induced compensated cirrhosis by clinical evidence of portal hypertension was included. Results. Serum cystatin C levels significantly increase from F0to F2 fibrosis stages, remained stable in F3 and F4 stages and increased again in the group of non-biopsied compensated cirrhosis. Serum cystatin C levels were higher in patients with moderate-advanced necroinflammation in the liver biopsy. Conclusion. Serum cystatin C level may reflect current fibrogenic and necroinflammatory activities in chronic HCV-induced liver disease with normal renal function but can not be considered as a non-invasive marker of liver fibrosis.
Authors and Affiliations
José Ladero, María Cárdenas, Luis Ortega, Andrea González-Pino, Francisca Cuenca, César Morales, Anna Lee-Brunner
Keywords
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