Correlation of Serum Fibronectin with Indirect Markers of Liver Fibrosis in HCV Patients

• Published in: Indian journal of clinical biochemistry Vol. 34; no. S1; p. S174
• Main Authors: Kaur, Navneet, Goyal, Gitanjali, Garg, Ravinder, Bansal, Parveen, Aggarwal, Simmi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Springer 24.05.2022
• Subjects: Blood; Blood sugar; Care and treatment; Fibronectins; Fibrosis; Health aspects; Hepatitis C virus; Liver; Liver cirrhosis; Medical examination; Patients
• ISSN: 0970-1915; 0974-0422

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most common problem these days which can lead to chronic infections causing liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. More than 170 million people worldwide are affected with HCV Liver fibrosis involves a disorganized accumulation of extra cellular matrix (ECM) components leading to loss of normal cell functions. The assessment of liver fibrosis in HCV patients is considered a key for decision making and patient care. The main invasive method for the same is liver biopsy but it has certain limitations. Hence, the use of non-invasive biomarkers is suggested. The APRI, i.e., AST to platelet ratio index is the most useful score to predict fibrosis. Moreover, the Serum Fibronectin (FN) is another noninvasive biomarker which can be considered. FN is a glycoprotein of ECM which is produced by hepatocytes. The study aims to investigate the role of serum FN levels to assess liver fibrosis for HCV patients. Further, FN levels were correlated with APRI and FIB-4. A total number of 40 HCV Patients attending Department of Medicine, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital Faridkot were considered in our study. Informed written consent was taken. 40 healthy individuals (age and sex matched) were taken as controls. Investigations such as Viral markers, Complete Blood Count, Blood Glucose, Renal Function Tests, Liver Function tests (AST, ALT, ALP, GGT), and Serum Fibronectin were performed. By using indirect markers, ratios like APRI, and FIB-4 were calculated. Serum FN levels were significantly lower in HCV Patients (137.8 [+ or -] 42.4 [micro]g/ml) when compared with controls (250.8 [+ or -] 36.8 [micro]g/ml) Moreover, a negative correlation was found between serum FN and AST (P<0.005), ALT (P<0.005), and GGT levels (P<0.001). An inverse relationship is found between serum Fibronectin levels and APRI, and FIB-4. Thus, decrease in FN may indicate hepatitis severity along with APRI, and FIB-4.