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Analysis of Epididymal Protein Synthesis and Secretion
10:23

Analysis of Epididymal Protein Synthesis and Secretion

Published on: August 25, 2018

9.3K

Evaluation of serum human epididymis protein 4 in children with chronic liver diseases

Nashwa Farouk Mohamed1, Ola Galal Ali Behairy1, Manal Sadek El Defrawy1

  • 1Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.

Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation
|December 5, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Serum human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) shows promise as a non-invasive biomarker for diagnosing liver fibrosis in children. Elevated HE4 levels correlate with fibrosis severity, aiding in early detection for pediatric chronic liver disease.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology
  • Biomarker Discovery
  • Non-invasive Diagnostics

Background:

  • Chronic liver diseases (CLD) in children often require invasive diagnostic methods like liver biopsy.
  • Accurate and non-invasive biomarkers are crucial for early detection and monitoring of liver fibrosis in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the diagnostic utility of serum human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) as a non-invasive biomarker for liver fibrosis in children with CLD.
  • To assess the correlation between HE4 levels and the severity of liver fibrosis and histological activity.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study involving 60 children with CLD and 60 healthy controls.
  • Serum HE4 levels were quantified using ELISA.
  • HE4 levels were compared between groups and correlated with liver biopsy findings.

Main Results:

  • Children with CLD exhibited significantly higher serum HE4 levels compared to healthy controls (p < .001).
  • HE4 levels demonstrated a significant positive correlation with the degree of liver fibrosis and histological activity index.
  • Specific HE4 cutoffs showed high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing mild and severe fibrosis.

Conclusions:

  • Serum HE4 is a potential non-invasive biomarker for the detection of liver fibrosis in children with CLD.
  • HE4 can effectively assess the severity of liver fibrosis, offering a less invasive alternative to liver biopsy.

Keywords:
Chronic liver diseaseHE4liver fibrosisnon-invasive biomarkerpediatric liver disease

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