Serum Autotaxin Levels Predict Liver-Related Events in Patients With Primary Biliary Cholangitis: A Long-Term Multicenter Observational Study

Takanobu Iwadare ¹, Takefumi Kimura ^1,2, Yuki Yamashita ^1,2

⁰Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.

Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology +

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October 28, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Serum autotaxin (ATX) can predict liver-related events (LRE) in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) patients. Higher ATX levels indicate a significantly increased risk of developing LRE, offering a new noninvasive predictive marker.

Area Of Science

Hepatology
Biomarker Discovery
Clinical Prediction Models

Background

Predicting liver-related events (LRE) in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) remains challenging.
A reliable, noninvasive method for LRE prediction in PBC is needed.

Purpose Of The Study

To investigate serum autotaxin (ATX) as a potential predictor of LRE in patients with PBC.
To compare the predictive performance of ATX with existing markers.

Main Methods

Retrospective analysis of 190 biopsy-proven, untreated PBC patients.
Longitudinal follow-up (median 9.7 years) for LRE development.
Serum ATX levels measured at liver biopsy were correlated with LRE incidence.

Main Results

Serum ATX levels predicted LRE with an AUC of 0.80 (cutoff 1.086 mg/L).
Patients with ATX ≥1.086 mg/L had a significantly higher LRE incidence (33.3% vs 3.6%, P < 0.00001).
ATX outperformed FIB-4, ALBI, APRI, and Mac-2-binding protein glycan isomer in predicting LRE.

Conclusions

Serum ATX is a promising, independent predictor of LRE in PBC.
ATX offers a novel, noninvasive tool for risk stratification in PBC patients.
Findings were validated in a separate cohort of serologically diagnosed PBC patients.