Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinase-1 and 2 and Obesity Related Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Is There a Relationship.
OBJECTIVE
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a spectrum of clinical conditions, including simple steatosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The aim of the study is to evaluate the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 and 2 (TIMPs) as noninvasive predictors of NASH.


METHODS
Three groups were included in the study. Obese patients (n = 30) with normal liver enzymes were included in group I and obese patients (n = 30) with elevated liver enzymes with liver biopsy-based diagnosis of NASH were included in group II. Age-matched subjects (n = 30) formed the control as group III. The lipid profile, liver enzyme levels and levels of TIMPs were compared among all the patients and subjects.


RESULTS
Comparison of groups I and II showed significantly elevated levels of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in group II as compared to group I (p < 0.05). Similarly, comparison between groups II and III showed significantly increased levels of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in group II as compared to group III (p < 0.05). TIMP-1 (sensitivity 96.7%, specificity 100%) and TIMP-2 (sensitivity 93.3%, specificity 100%) showed high accuracy in NASH diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 may be considered noninvasive markers for the diagnosis of NASH.
Department of Internal Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Rokaya
R
Abdelaziz
Mohamed
M
Elbasel
Serag
S
Esmat
Kareem
K
Essam
Sahar
S
Abdelaaty
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000097:blood*; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; C560822:TIMP1 protein, human; C560823:TIMP2 protein, human; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2