Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• YILMAZ, Y.

Titel

Systematic review: caspase‐cleaved fragments of cytokeratin 18 – the promises and challenges of a biomarker for chronic liver disease

Ist Teil von

• Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics, 2009-12, Vol.30 (11‐12), p.1103-1109

Ort / Verlag

Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

2009

Quelle

Wiley-Blackwell Journals

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Summary Background  Biomarkers hold great promise for detecting chronic liver disease without the use of liver biopsy. Aim  To review the usefulness of cytokeratin (CK) 18 fragments, a marker of hepatocyte apoptosis, to predict the presence of chronic liver injury. Methods  Available literature identified from PubMed was reviewed. Results  Levels of CK18 fragments have been shown to be elevated in hepatocellular carcinoma, viral hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and cholestatic liver disease. In the setting of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, CK18 fragments may distinguish nonalcoholic steatohepatitis from simple fatty liver. Conclusions  Undoubtedly, the most promising application of CK18 fragments is currently in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and especially for distinguishing patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis vs. those with simple steatosis. Further investigations and technical improvements are required to cross the boundary from research to the clinical application of CK18 fragments as a marker of chronic liver disease.