Diagnostic value of serum cytokeratin‐18 in children with chronic liver disease

摘要

Aim This study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of serum cytokeratin‐18 (CK‐18) in children with chronic liver diseases (CLD) and correlate its serum level with liver histology and other liver biomarkers. Methods This study included two groups, the first group included children with CLD and the second group included healthy matched age and gender subjects as a control group, complete history and clinical examination, and serum CK‐18 was measured using the sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay technique. Results Serum concentrations of CK‐18 were significantly elevated in CLD patients with mean?±?standard deviation (1070.63?±?699.2?ng/mL) compared to healthy controls mean?±?standard deviation (203.95?±?83.57?ng/mL). CK‐18 levels were associated with a change in hepatocyte and portal tract ( P ?=?0.005) as it was elevated with cirrhosis and fibrosis stage ( P ?=?0.02) as it was elevated with moderate and severe fibrosis than mild fibrosis, also it showed a gradual increase in accordance with child Pugh score. There was a positive correlation between CK‐18 levels and Total IgG, paediatric end‐stage liver disease score and model for end‐stage liver disease scores, the best cutoff point of CK‐18 was 624?ng/mL, with sensitivity 93.06%, specificity 62.5% and diagnostic accuracy 90.0% for detection of fibrosis. Conclusion CK‐18 could be used as a non‐invasive diagnostic marker in children with CLD.