Soluble ST2 plasma concentrations predict mortality in HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure

Mediators Inflamm. 2015:2015:535938. doi: 10.1155/2015/535938. Epub 2015 Mar 29.

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) is a rapidly progressing and frequently fatal condition. The aim of this study was to determine whether interleukin- (IL-) 33 and soluble ST2 (sST2) were associated with disease severity and mortality in HBV-ACLF. We found that plasma levels of sST2 but not IL-33 were higher in HBV-ACLF patients compared with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and healthy controls. However, plasma levels of IL-33, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-10 did not correlate with sST2 levels. Similarly, immunohistochemistry revealed low IL-33 expression and high ST2 expression in liver sections of patients with HBV-ACLF. Evaluation of dynamic changes of sST2 in HBV-ACLF showed that plasma sST2 levels increased over time in patients who died during the 180-day follow-up but decreased in those who survived. In addition, plasma sST2 level after week 1 correlated with disease severity, as assessed by total bilirubin, prothrombin time, and model for end-stage liver disease score. Results of Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that higher sST2 concentration (≥87 ng/mL) at week 3 was associated with poor survival. These findings indicate the potential usefulness of sST2 as a predictor of disease severity and in making treatment decisions for patients with HBV-ACLF.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure / blood*
  • Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure / mortality
  • Adult
  • Bilirubin / blood
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Biopsy
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Hepatitis B virus
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / blood*
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / mortality
  • Humans
  • Immunoassay
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein
  • Interleukin-33 / blood
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Liver / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • ROC Curve
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / blood*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Cytokines
  • IL1RL1 protein, human
  • IL33 protein, human
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein
  • Interleukin-33
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Bilirubin