Evaluation of the Diagnostic Value of Serum Cytokeratin-8 as a Marker of Liver Injury in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is considered the most health problematic in Egypt. Its severity ranges from mild illness to serious complications as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Keratins emerge as markers of liver injury beside significant contributors to liver disease pathogenesis.

Aims: We analyzed the cytokeratin-8 serum levels and blood mRNA expression in chronic hepatitis C patients to evaluate serum CK8 role as a marker of liver injury.

Patients and Methods: This study included 100 Egyptian patients with liver disease. They were 82 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 12 patients with hepatitis C-induced cirrhotic changes. Fifteen healthy controls were also included in the study. All studied subjects underwent a clinical assessment and complete laboratory evaluation. For patients groups a conventional abdominal ultrasonography and guided liver biopsy were performed with histopathological examination to assess the grade of inflammation and stage of fibrosis according to the Metavir scoring. The levels of CK-8 serum and blood mRNA expression were measured.

Results: Serum CK-8 levels and mRNA expression were increased in HCV and cirrhotic patients compared to control group (P <0.001*). Serum CK-8 levels were positively correlated with Metavir score in patients groups (r=0.714, P <0.001) (r=0.447, P <0.001) and in selected patients with inconclusive FIB4 index (values in between 1.45-3.25) (r=0.291, P =0.048) (r= 0.486, P <0.001).

Conclusions: Serum CK 8 levels were positively correlated with Metavir score and FIB4 index. They may be useful for monitoring disease activity in chronic HCV patients especially with inconclusive FIB4 index.