[Does carbohydrate-deficient transferrin have diagnostic value in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?].
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an acquired metabolic liver disease in the consequence of triglyceride accumulation within liver cells. It is accompanied by necrobiotic inflammatory reaction, fibrosis and also by liver cirrhosis. Its distinction from alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) can be difficult. Clear anamnesis may help, but if the patient does not inform us about the alcohol consumption, the differentiation is not easy.


OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to determine the value of carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, as well as to analyze the background of high CDT values, according to the anamnesis.


METHODS
39 patients (21 female and 18 male) with ultrasound signs of fatty liver disease were studied. CDT, body mass index (BMI) and HOMA index were determined.


RESULTS
Mean value of CDT was: 2.39+/-0.52% (in male 2.51+/-0.61, in female 2.28+/-0.4). No significant difference was found among the two sexes. The diversity of CDT values was normal. The value of BMI belonged to the overweight area without any significant difference between the two sexes.


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of the results, NAFLD and AFLD can be differentiated according to the CDT value, and this value could be a higher specific value than the activity of gammaglutamyl transpeptidase, however, anamnesis and other factors are as well very important in achieving the correct diagnosis.
Fraenkel
Emil
E
I Interná Klinika Palárikova, LF UPJS, 5 040 01 Kosice, Szlovákia. fraenkel.emil@freemail.hu
Szabó
György
G
Lengyel
Gabriella
G
Jarcuska
Peter
P
Lazúrová
Ivica
I
Dinya
Elek
E
Fehér
János
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014168:Transferrin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D014168:Transferrin; C056759:carbohydrate-deficient transferrin