Diagnostic Performance of Serum Asialo α 1 -Acid Glycoprotein Levels to Predict Liver Cirrhosis

• Published in: Gut and liver Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 109 - 116
• Main Authors: Dae Hyun Lim, Mimi Kim, Dae Won Jun, Min Jung Kwak, Jai Hoon Yoon, Kang Nyeong Lee, Hang Lak Lee, Oh Young Lee, Byung Chul Yoon, Ho Soon Choi, Bo Kyeong Kang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 대한간학회 30-01-2021
• Subjects: Asialo alpha 1-acid glycoprotein; Chronic hepatitis; Liver cirrhosis; Magnetic resonance elastography
• ISSN: 1976-2283

Background/Aims: To date, studies on various noninvasive techniques have been suggested to evaluate the degree of liver fibrosis. We aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of serum asialo α1-acid glycoprotein (AsAGP) in the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis compared with chronic hepatitis for clinically useful result.
Methods: We conducted a case-control study of 96 patients with chronic liver disease. Chronic hepatitis was defined as the presence of chronic liver disease on ultrasonography, with a liver stiffness of less than 5.0 kPa as shown on magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). Liver cirrhosis was defined as liver stiffness of more than 5.0 kPa on MRE. The serum AsAGP concentration was compared between the two groups.
Results: Serum AsAGP levels were significantly higher in patients with cirrhosis than in those with chronic hepatitis (1.83 μg/mL vs 1.42 μg/mL, p<0.001). Additionally, when comparing patients in each cirrhotic group (Child-Pugh grades A, B, and C) to those with chronic hepatitis, AsAGP levels were significantly higher in all the cirrhotic groups (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001, respectively). The sensitivity and specificity of AsAGP for detecting cirrhosis were 79.2% and 64.6%, respectively, and the area under the curve value was 0.733. The best diagnostic cutoff to predict cirrhosis was 1.4 μg/mL. AsAGP and bilirubin were found to be independent risk factors for the prediction of cirrhosis in the logistic regression analysis.
Conclusions: Serum AsAGP showed an acceptable diagnostic performance in predicting liver cirrhosis. (Gut Liver 2021;15:109-116)