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The Egyptian Journal of Internal Medicine
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Serum angiopoietin-2 as a noninvasive diagnostic marker of stages of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients

The Egyptian Journal of Internal Medicine volume 28, pages 140–148 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

The process of fibrogenesis is associated with the development of disease-specific markers. The management of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) depends on the staging of liver fibrosis. Use of noninvasive methods is preferable in diagnosis and follow-up.

Objective

The aim of this study is to evaluate serum angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) as a noninvasive marker in the diagnosis of different stages of liver fibrosis in CHC patients.

Materials and methods

A total of 90 individuals were included. They were divided into a patient group (75 patients) and a control group (15 normal individuals). Serum Ang-2 was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pretreatment liver biopsy was performed for the patients. The METAVIR score was used in the staging of liver fibrosis. A comparison of Ang-2 was performed between patients and controls, and between different stages of liver fibrosis. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was carried out to determine the best cutoff values of Ang-2 in the differentiation of different stages of fibrosis.

Results

Ang-2 serum levels were significantly higher in advanced stages of liver fibrosis. The cutoff points 869.3, 2226, and 7205 pg/ml were the best for differentiating fibrosis stages >F1; >F2; and >F3, respectively. Ang-2, international normalized ratio, α-fetoprotein, and albumin were found to be independent predictors of liver fibrosis using univariate analysis.

Conclusion

Ang-2 correlated significantly with liver fibrosis stage. It can aid noninvasive differentiation between different stages of liver fibrosis in patients with CHC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Khalifa El-Maamon Street, Abbassia, Cairo, 11341, Egypt

    Mohamed M. Makhlouf, Mahmoud A. Osman, Shereen A. B. Saleh MD, Wael A. Yousry & Mohamed L. Soliman

  2. Tropical Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

    Wahid H. Doss

  3. Ayatt Central Hospital, Ministry of Health, Giza, Egypt

    Fayrouz S. Wahba

Authors
  1. Mohamed M. Makhlouf
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  2. Mahmoud A. Osman
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  3. Shereen A. B. Saleh MD
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  4. Wael A. Yousry
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  5. Mohamed L. Soliman
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  6. Wahid H. Doss
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  7. Fayrouz S. Wahba
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shereen A. B. Saleh MD.

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Makhlouf, M.M., Osman, M.A., Saleh, S.A.B. et al. Serum angiopoietin-2 as a noninvasive diagnostic marker of stages of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients. Egypt J Intern Med 28, 140–148 (2016). https://doi.org/10.4103/1110-7782.203293

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