title: Serum level of YKL-40 does not predict advanced liver fibrosis in children with chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the serum concentration of YKL-40 (human cartilage glycoprotein-39) in the assessment of fibrosis stage in children compared to biopsy and prior to antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis B.
  
  
  METHODS
  We determined serum level of YKL-40 (METRA, EIA kit, Quidel Corporation, San Diego, USA) after an overnight fast in 63 children (age range 4-17 years, mean 10 years) with biopsy-verified chronic HBeAg-positive hepatitis B. Fibrosis stage and inflammation grade were assessed in a blinded fashion according to Ishak et al. We defined advanced liver fibrosis as a score >2. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was used to calculate the power of the assay to detect advanced liver fibrosis (AccuROC, Canada).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum concentration of YKL-40 was significantly higher in patients with chronic hepatitis B compared to controls (n=16) (38.5 +/- 19.2 vs 27.9 +/- 8.75 ng/mL; p = 0.032). The ability of serum YKL-40 to differentiate children with advanced liver fibrosis (n=31; 49.2%) from those with mild fibrosis was not significant (AUC = 0.387 +/- 0.072, p = 0.12). This marker was not a good predictor of histologic inflammation either.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum level of YKL-40 does not predict advanced liver fibrosis in children with chronic hepatitis B.
authors.affiliation: IIIrd Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Białystok, ul. Waszyngtona 17, 15-274 Białystok, Poland. DariuszMar.8810735@pharmanet.com.pl
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lebensztejn
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Skiba
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Werpachowska
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Sobaniec-Łotowska
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaczmarski
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000737:chemistry; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D015415:Biomarkers; C084533:CHI3L1 protein, human; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D006023:Glycoproteins; D037102:Lectins