Afamin and adropin in patients with alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis

Ann Agric Environ Med. 2018 Sep 25;25(3):527-531. doi: 10.26444/aaem/92650. Epub 2018 Jul 25.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine serum concentrations of afamin and adropin in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and to define their correlation with the stage of disease. The study included 99 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis from the region of Lublin, (Eastern Poland). Liver cirrhosis was diagnosed based on clinical features, history of heavy alcohol consumption, laboratory tests and abdominal ultrasonography. The control group consisted of 20 healthy individuals without liver disease who did not abuse alcohol. The serum afamin and adropin concentrations were determined using ELISA kits. The concentration of afamin was found to be significantly lower in patients with compensated alcoholic liver cirrhosis, i.e. P-Ch B (85.1±40.6 μg/ml) and P-Ch C (56.4±32.3 μg/ml) individuals, compared to the control group (135.9±43.6 μg/ml); p-value was <0.01 and <0.001, respectively. As far as adropin is concerned, a reverse relationship was demonstrated: the highest concentration was found in patients with P-Ch C (11.7±5.7 ng/ml) cirrhosis. Furthermore, the above concentration was significantly higher compared to patients with P-Ch A cirrhosis (7.2±2.8 ng/ml; p<0.05) and controls (7.5±2.6 ng/ml; p<0.05). The concentration of afamin decreases with the severity of alcoholic liver cirrhosis, which most likely results from impaired hepatic synthesis. Otherwise, the higher the stage of disease according to the Child-Pugh score, the higher the concentration of adropin.

Keywords: Adropin; Child-Pugh score; afamin; alcoholic liver cirrhosis.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcohols / adverse effects
  • Alcohols / metabolism
  • Blood Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / blood*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Glycoproteins / blood*
  • Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / blood*
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / diagnostic imaging
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / etiology
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / genetics
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Peptides / blood*
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Poland
  • Serum Albumin, Human / genetics
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Ultrasonography
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • AFM protein, human
  • Alcohols
  • Blood Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Enho protein, human
  • Glycoproteins
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Peptides
  • Serum Albumin, Human