Intraindividual Changes in Mac-2 Binding Protein Glycosylation Isomer (M2BPGi) Performed in Korean Subjects

Limited data are available regarding intraindividual changes in the Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi), a liver fibrosis biomarker, performed for health checkups in Korean subjects.

Through a laboratory information system, we retrospectively investigated longitudinally measured M2BPGi to assess intraindividual changes in M2BPGi test results.

During a 38-month study period, 526 test results from 246 Korean subjects undergoing general health checkups were requested from 13 local clinics and hospitals. Among all 246 subjects, 190 (77.2%) exhibited negative M2BPGi (< 1.0 C.O.I.) during the initial measurement. Among all 246 subjects, 210 (85.4%) did not experience any changes in qualitative results during a follow-up. Among 42 subjects with initially 1+ positive results for M2BPGi, 17 (40.5%) changed to a negative M2BPGi result at least once during follow-up. No subjects with initially negative results or 1+ positive (1.0 ≤ C.O.I. < 3.0) results changed to 2+ positive (≥ 3.0 C.O.I.) results during the 38-month follow-up period.

Some subjects exhibited qualitative changes in M2BPGi during follow-up health examinations. Future studies are needed to clarify the clinical implication of such changes.