Journal List > Korean J Gastroenterol > v.64(4) > 1007284

Kwak, Jun, Cho, Lee, Lee, Jung, Lee, Park, Lee, Lee, Rho, Lee, Ko, and Park: Clinical Correlation between Serum Cytokeratin-18 and Metabolic Parameters in Patients with Sonographic Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract

Background/Aims

The serum cytokeratin-18 (CK-18) has been suggested to be a surrogate marker of nonalcoholic 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 cutoff 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 cutoff value of greater than 400 U/L was used.

References

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Fig. 1.
Serum cytokeratin-18 (CK-18) level according to disease subgroups. Serum CK-18 level of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) group was higher than that of control group. Presence of metabolic syndrome (MS) further increased serum CK-18 level in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. p<0.05 by ANOVA test.
kjg-64-206f1.tif
Table 1.
Baseline Characteristic of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Healthy Control
Characteristic Control (n=106) NAFLD (n=106) p-value
Age (yr) 42.54 43.01 0.590
Sex (male) 71 (66.9) 63 (59.4) 0.221
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) 120.5±12.7 126.4±14.1 0.001
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) 75.2±8.0 76.9±10.5 0.135
AST (U/L) 32.5±22.4 51.6±27.8 <0.001
ALT (U/L) 48.9±44.9 87.4±43.4 <0.001
Fasting glucose (mg/dL) 94.7±15.4 103.3±19.2 <0.001
Total cholesterol (mg/dL) 182.5±34.8 199.0±35.0 <0.001
Triglyceride (mg/dL) 127.3±83.0 182.6±130.0 <0.001
HDL-cholesterol (mg/dL) 52.6±13.9 44.5±8.7 <0.001
LDL-cholesterol (mg/dL) 105.9±30.8 129.3±58.8 <0.001
Cytokeratin-18 (U/L) 313.6±179.3 420.4±282.3 <0.001

Values are presented as mean only, n (%), or mean±SD.

p<0.05 by Student t-test and chi-square test.

Table 2.
Relationship between Serum Cytokeratin-18 and Clinical Parameters
Clinical parameter r p-value
Age −0.246 0.020
Systolic blood pressure 0.130 0.036
Diastolic blood pressure 0.073 0.236
AST 0.361 <0.001
ALT 0.503 <0.001
Fasting glucose 0.108 0.085
Total cholesterol −0.10 0.878
Triglyceride 0.105 0.096
HDL-cholesterol −0.249 <0.001
LDL-cholesterol 0.043 0.502

All data expressed by r (p),

p<0.05 by Pearson correlation, r: Pearson correlation value.

Table 3.
Clinical Characteristics according to Serum Cytokeratin-18 (CK-18) Level in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Variable CK-18≤400 (n=72) CK-18>400 (n=34) p-value
BMI (kg/m2) 25.5±4.3 28.0±4.5 0.002
Age (yr) 44.5±10.4 40.4±12.7 0.025
AST (U/L) 40.7±23.5 52.7±26.3 0.003
ALT (U/L) 61.2±32.2 102.0±52.6 <0.001
Insulin 13.0±13.7 19.9±20.1 0.020
Glucose (mg/dL) 104.6±18.0 102.4±15.8 0.438
Cholesterol (mg/dL) 201.2±33.5 189.0±34.8 0.030
Waist (cm) 88.6±10.2 95.6±12.2 <0.001
Visceral fat (HU) 136.9±60.4 158.9±55.0 0.024
Subcutaneous abdominal fat (HU) 195.7±147.8 283.5±172.2 0.001
Total abdominal fat (HU) 332.6±193.3 442.5±208.7 0.001
Liver (HU) 47.8±10.8 41.5±14.1 0.001
Liver/spleen HU ratio 0.94±0.22 0.80±0.29 0.001

Values are presented as mean±SD.

HU, Hounsfield unit.

p<0.05 by Student t-test.

Table 4.
Relationship between Serum Cytokeratin-18 and Dietary Habit
Variable r p-value
Nutrient    
 Total energy 0.301 <0.001
 Carbohydrate 0.305 <0.001
 Fat 0.235 0.002
 Vegetable fat 0.255 0.001
 Animal fat 0.140 0.072
 Protein 0.220 0.005
 Vegetable protein 0.220 0.004
 Animal protein 0.118 0.130
 Fiber 0.142 0.069
 Vitamin D −0.003 0.974
 Vitamin E 0.196 0.012
 Calcium 0.137 0.080
 Natrium 0.249 0.001
 Potassium 0.155 0.047
Food    
 Grain 0.301 <0.001
 Potato 0.070 0.410
 Sugar 0.057 0.500
 Pulses −0.008 0.928
 Seeds 0.051 0.545
 Vegetable 0.174 0.038
 Mushroom 0.321 <0.001
 Fruits −0.23 0.788
 Meat 0.130 0.123
 Eggs 0.018 0.834
 Fish 0.018 0.833
 Seaweed −0.117 0.164
 Milk 0.035 0.678
 Fat oil 0.208 0.013
 Drinks 0.010 0.904
 Spice 0.192 0.022

All data expressed by r (p), p<0.05 by Pearson correlation, r: Pearson correlation value.

Table 5.
Relationship between Serum Cytokeratin-18 (CK-18) and Macronutrients
Macronutrients composition CK-18≤400 (n=72) CK-18>400 (n=34) p-value
Energy intake (kcal) 1,772.8±359.5 1,962.8±553.3 0.009
Carbohydrate intake (g) 260.2±55.7 287.1±80.4 0.014
Fat intake (g) 47.5±16.7 55.6±24.9 0.015
Protein intake (g) 70.9±17.7 78.0±23.0 0.033
Natrium intake (mg) 3,724.7±1,147.3 4,181.3±1483.0 0.032
Natrium intake/total intake amount 301.0±84.6 330.7±101.9 0.051

Values are presented as mean±SD.

p<0.05 by Student t-test.

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