title: Prognostic value of Gc-globulin in Chinese patients with acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine dynamic Gc-globulin level change in Acute-on-Chronic Hepatitis B Liver Failure (ACHBLF) patients, and evaluate the prognostic value of Gc-globulin.
  
  
  METHODS
  An analytical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China, from January 2010 to December 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 54 consecutive Chinese ACHBLF patients and 30 healthy volunteers as controls were recruited from 2010 to 2012. The patients were divided into improved group and aggravated group. Gc-globulin levels were determined in both groups and mean values compared with significance at p < 0.05. Cut-off value was also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Gc-globulin level was significantly decreased in ACHBLF patients (p < 0.001). Gc-globulin levels were significantly higher in improved patients than in aggravated patients, and a 215 mg/L cut-off value carried the best prognostic information. On longitudinal observations, Gc-globulin gradually elevated in improved groups. However, in aggravated groups, the Gc-globulin levels were always below normal levels and no significant change was observed before or after the treatment (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gc-globulin monitoring offers a rapid and accurate method to estimate treatment outcomes on admission and an effective temporal indicator of curative effects in ACHBLF patients at an optimal cut-off value of 215 mg/L.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
authors.forename: Zhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory, Information Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
authors.forename: Yiyi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D065290:Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D014809:Vitamin D-Binding Protein / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014809:Vitamin D-Binding Protein