title: Serum TGF-β, Serum MMP-1, and HOMA-IR as non-invasive predictors of fibrosis in Egyptian patients with NAFLD.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasingly prevalent cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. A number of these patients progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) which carries significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum levels of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), and insulin resistance as predictors of fibrosis in Egyptian NAFLD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty patients with NAFLD and different stages of fibrosis were studied. Serum levels of TGF-β1, MMP-1, and fasting serum insulin were measured; calculation of the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was done.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TGF-β1 gives a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 94.4% for stage 1 fibrosis, 100% and 93.9%, respectively, for stage 2 fibrosis, and 97.7% and 100%, respectively, for stage 3 fibrosis. MMP-1 showed sensitivity and specificity of 88% and 81.8%, respectively, for stage 2 fibrosis, 90.9% and 55.56%, respectively, for stage 3 fibrosis, but it is of no diagnostic value in stage 1 fibrosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum TGF-β1, MMP-1, and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) proved to be potentially useful noninvasive markers in predicting fibrosis in NASH patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Ain-Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt. adelmahmoud66@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Adel A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mahmoud
authors.forename: Amal S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Bakir
authors.forename: Sherif S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Shabana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1