Biochemical studies on fibronectin in patients with chronic liver diseases

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of fibronectin to discriminate between significant [F2-F4] and none significant fibrosis [F0-F1] in order to avoid liver biopsy. Fibronectin was identified using specific monoclonal antibody and Western blot at 90-kDa in serum of chronic HCV patients. Fibronectin was quantified in serum using ELISA technique. The Cut-off level of fibronectin was 400 micro g/ml. The mean +/- SD [micro g/ml] of serum fibronectin concentration in patients with none significant liver fibrosis were 317 +/- 184 and in patients with significant liver fibrosis were 587.8 +/- 322. There were significant differences among two groups of patients [P<0.0001]. The area under the receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve of fibronectin for discriminating patients with none significant liver fibrosis from those with significant liver fibrosis were 0.78. The diagnostic values of the fibronectin in discriminating patients with none significant liver fibrosis from patients with significant liver fibrosis were high with 82% sensitivity, 68% specificity, 81% negative predictive value, 69% positive predictive value and 76% efficiency. In conclusion, serum fibronectin has a good diagnostic performance and can be used for discriminating patients with non significant liver fibrosis from patients with significant liver fibrosis