Clinical Correlation between Serum Cytokeratin-18 and Metabolic Parameters in Patients with Sonographic Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / 대한소화기학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The serum cytokeratin-18 (CK-18) has been suggested to be a surrogate marker of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between CK-18 and metabolic parameter in NAFLD patients. Correlation between CK-18 and macronutrient composition was also assessed. METHODS: A total of 212 subjects were recruited. Blood chemistry including fasting glucose, cholesterol level, AST, ALT, and CK-18 were compared. Data on calorie intake and carbohydrate consumption were acquired by five-day-diet diary using 24 hour recall method. RESULTS: Plasma CK-18 were markedly increased in patient with NAFLD compared with control group (420.4+/-282.3 vs. 313.6+/-179, p<0.001). Plasma CK-18 were positively correlated with systolic blood pressure (r=0.130), ALT (r=0.503) and negatively correlated with HDL cholesterol (r=-0.246). NAFLD patients with metabolic syndrome had higher CK-18 level than those without metabolic syndrome (484.0 vs. 372.1 U/L, p=0.021). When NAFLD patients were subdivided into two groups with CK-18 cut-off value of 400 U/L, patients with CK-18 level over 400 U/L showed higher body mass index (28.0+/-4.5 vs. 25.5+/-4.3), subcutaneous abdominal fat (283.5+/-172.2 vs. 195.7+/-147.8), AST (52.7+/-26.3 vs. 40.7+/-23.5) and ALT (102.0+/-52.6 vs. 61.2+/-32.2). Calorie intake (r=0.301) and carbohydrate intake (r=0.305) also showed positive correlation with CK-18. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma CK-18 showed positive correlation with metabolic parameters as well as calorie and carbohydrate intake when its cut-off value of greater than 400 U/L was used.