BACKGROUND/AIMS: In the present study, we examined the usefulness of serum hepatic fibrosis markers for the diagnosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). METHODOLOGY: The subjects were 16 patients with NASH and 9 patients with fatty liver (FL). All were negative for serum HBsAg, HCVAb, antibodies related with autoimmune diseases, alcohol intake, and drug abuse. We measured the biochemical markers for liver function, hepatic fibrosis markers such as type III procollagen N-peptide (PIIIP), type IV collagen (TyIV), hyaluronic acid (HA) and leptin, and compared these data with histological findings of biopsy specimens. In addition, we examined the diagnostic efficiency of fibrosis markers and leptin for NASH using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Body mass index (BMI), fasting blood sugar, triglyceride, and degree of fat droplets, inflammation, iron deposition and fibrosis were significantly higher in the NASH group compared with the FL group. RESULTS: The diagnostic efficiencies of NASH% (cut-off value) were 68% (100ng/mL) for TyIV, 68% (10ng/mL) for HA, 64% (0.62U/mL) for PIIIP and 56% (8pg/mL) for leptin. CONCLUSIONS: From these results, it is suggested that the serum hepatic fibrosis markers such as TyIV, in addition to liver biopsy, may be useful for the diagnosis of NASH.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: In the present study, we examined the usefulness of serum hepatic fibrosis markers for the diagnosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). METHODOLOGY: The subjects were 16 patients with NASH and 9 patients with fatty liver (FL). All were negative for serum HBsAg, HCVAb, antibodies related with autoimmune diseases, alcohol intake, and drug abuse. We measured the biochemical markers for liver function, hepatic fibrosis markers such as type III procollagen N-peptide (PIIIP), type IV collagen (TyIV), hyaluronic acid (HA) and leptin, and compared these data with histological findings of biopsy specimens. In addition, we examined the diagnostic efficiency of fibrosis markers and leptin for NASH using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Body mass index (BMI), fasting blood sugar, triglyceride, and degree of fat droplets, inflammation, iron deposition and fibrosis were significantly higher in the NASH group compared with the FL group. RESULTS: The diagnostic efficiencies of NASH% (cut-off value) were 68% (100ng/mL) for TyIV, 68% (10ng/mL) for HA, 64% (0.62U/mL) for PIIIP and 56% (8pg/mL) for leptin. CONCLUSIONS: From these results, it is suggested that the serum hepatic fibrosis markers such as TyIV, in addition to liver biopsy, may be useful for the diagnosis of NASH.