Autotaxin as a Marker for Liver Fibrosis in Chronic HCV Patients

ABSTRACT: Background: Chronic hepatitis C is a major health problem. Noninvasive markers were developed to overcome liver biopsy complications. Autotaxin (ATX) is a lysophospholipase D enzyme that regulates lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) blood concentrations. Studies have suggested that the phenotypic changes during liver fibrosis may lead to changes in ATX level in the serum. Objectives: to determine the serum Autotaxin levels and its correlation to the liver fibrosis and whether it can be used as a non-invasive diagnostic biomarker of fibrosis in Egyptian Chronic viral hepatitis C individuals. Methodology: This study was conducted on 40 patients divided into 2 groups: Group I comprised of 20 patients with chronic viral hepatitis C patients in compensated stage and Group II comprised of 20 patients with chronic viral hepatitis C patients in decompensated stage together with 20 apparently healthy controls group. All patients were subjected to the following: complete history taking، complete clinical examination، routine lab investigations، abdominal ultrasound and measurement of serum ATX level detected by ELISA technique. Results: 40 patients were enrolled. Serum ATX was significantly higher according to liver fibrosis worsen stage (p=0.002) ،ATX was significantly higher in decompensated chronic hepatitis C patients (CHC) compared to patients with compensated CHC and controls with mean values (646.7 ± 247.4) ، (615.3 ± 266) and (469.9 ± 62.3) ng/ml respectively (p=0.005). Conclusion: Autotaxin was shown to be a potential serum marker for estimating the degree of fibrosis in patients with chronic HCV.