The value of osteopontin in predicting fibrosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis C

Abstract

Background. Diagnosis of an asymptomatic course of chronic viral hepatitis C (HCV) and the existing development of the fibrotic process by determining the marker capabilities of biochemical blood parameters (primarily osteopontin — OP) is an urgent issue in modern medicine. Purpose: to evaluate the prognostic value of biochemical blood markers for diagnosing an asymptoma­tic course of HCV and the existing fibrotic process. Materials and me­thods. Seventy-eight people were examined: 47 from the main group — 19 (40.4 %) women and 28 (59.6 %) men with chronic HCV, and 31 controls — 17 (54.8 %) women and 14 (45.2 %) men without chronic HCV. The median, as well as 25.0% and 75.0% quartiles and relative values were calculated for quantitative and qualitative measures, respectively. Predictors were determined using logistic regression analysis. Results. The data obtained by a univariate analysis indicate a significantly increased risk of develo­ping liver fibrosis on the background of chronic HCV, with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels increased by 1.037 times, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) by 1.051 times, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) by 1.017 times; thymol turbidity test by 1.424 times; total protein by 1.162 times and OP by 3.002 times. With increased levels of triglycerides and very low-density lipoproteins, a significant decrease in these risks was found, by 74.7 and 94.7 %, respectively. A multivariate analysis found significantly increased risks of deve­loping liver fibrosis on the background of chronic HCV, with higher levels of AST, total protein, and OP (by 1.028, 1.195 and 2.510 times, respectively). Conclusions. With a significant liver damage by a fibrotic process (stage 3–4), as compared to stage 0–2, there is a probable predominance of biochemical liver markers in the blood of patients with HCV: ALT, AST, GGT, total protein and OP. AST, total protein, and OP were identified as reliable predictors of liver fibrosis. The developed mathematical model has high sensitivity and specificity: 87.5 and 83.9 %, respectively.