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Updated: Oct 10, 2025

Incorporation of a Survivable Liver Biopsy Procedure in Mice to Assess Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis NASH Resolution
Published on: April 16, 2019
Immunoglobulin G in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis predicts clinical outcome: A prospective multi-centre cohort study
Marianne Anastasia De Roza1, Mehul Lamba2, George Boon-Bee Goh3
1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sengkang General Hospital, Singhealth, Singapore 544886, Singapore.
Background:
Autoimmune markers including plasma cells (PC), anti-smooth-muscle antibody (ASMA), anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), and raised immunoglobulin G (IgG) are commonly observed in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), however their clinical significance is unknown.
Aim:
To determine if autoimmune markers in NASH patients are independently associated with poorer clinical outcomes.
Methods:
Consecutive patients with biopsy proven NASH from Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand and Singapore General Hospital (SGH) were included between 2005 to 2016 in a prospective multi-centre cohort study. Patients with other causes of chronic liver disease were excluded. IgG > 14 g/L or globulin fraction > 50%, ANA ≥ 1:40, SMA ≥ 1:40 were considered positive. Multivariate analysis was performed to assess which markers were independently associated with mortality and hepatic decompensation.
Results:
Total 261 patients were included of which 201 were from SGH. The median age was 53 and 51.9% were male. Advanced fibrosis was present in 31.4% at diagnosis. PC, ASMA, ANA and raised IgG were observed in 13.1%, 4.9%, 27.8% and 30.1% of patients respectively. After multivariate analysis, elevated IgG [Hazard Ratio (HR) 6.79, 95%CI: 2.93-17.15] and fibrosis stage (HR 1.37, 95%CI: 1.03-1.87) were found to be independently associated with increased risk of liver decompensation. Age (HR 1.06, 95%CI: 1.02-1.10) and elevated IgG (HR 3.79, 95%CI: 1.90-7.68) were independent factors associated with higher mortality risk.
Conclusion:
Elevated IgG, rather than ANA, ASMA or plasma cells, is independently associated with increased risk of hepatic decompensation and mortality in NASH. It could hence be important for prognostication.
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