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Lipocalin-2 serum levels are increased in acute hepatic failure

G A Roth1, S Nickl, D Lebherz-Eichinger

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, General Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. georg.roth@meduniwien.ac.at

Transplantation Proceedings
|February 5, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Serum Lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) levels are elevated in patients with acute liver failure (ALF) and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) compared to chronic hepatic failure (CHF). LCN-2 may help differentiate acute from chronic liver disease.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Hepatology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) is a protein upregulated during inflammation and infection.
  • Elevated LCN-2 serum levels are associated with cellular stress.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of LCN-2 in acute hepatic failure (AHF).
  • To assess LCN-2 relevance in patients treated with the molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS).

Main Methods:

  • Serum LCN-2 concentrations were measured using ELISA.
  • Patients included 8 with ACLF/ALF treated with MARS and 14 with CHF.
  • LCN-2 levels were assessed before and after the first MARS session.

Main Results:

  • Baseline LCN-2 serum concentrations were significantly higher in ACLF and ALF patients compared to CHF patients (P = .004 and P = .0086).
  • No significant difference in LCN-2 levels was observed between ALF and ACLF groups.
  • Serum LCN-2 levels remained unchanged during MARS treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated serum LCN-2 may distinguish acute from chronic hepatic failure.
  • LCN-2 could serve as a biomarker for monitoring disease severity and progression in liver failure.

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