title: Gas6 as a putative noninvasive biomarker of hepatic fibrosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate serum growth arrest-specific gene 6 (Gas6) concentration as a biomarker of liver fibrosis progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and thirteen consecutive patients affected by chronic liver disease underwent transient elastography, Gas6 measurement and, if clinically indicated, liver biopsy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gas6 concentration was directly correlated to liver stiffness (r = 0.67; p < 0.0001) and was significantly higher in patients with advanced fibrosis (Ishak 4-5; p < 0.001). A plasma concentration <30 ng/ml Gas6 ruled out fibrosis with 84% sensitivity and 56% specificity, while values >42 ng/ml identified severe fibrosis with a sensitivity of 64% and a specificity of 95%; the diagnostic accuracy was comparable to that of transient elastography.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gas6 is a novel biomarker of liver fibrosis, with a potential clinical and pathophysiological relevance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale UPO, via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy.|Division of Internal Medicine, "AOU Maggiore della Carità", Corso Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellan
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale UPO, via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy.|Division of Internal Medicine, "AOU Maggiore della Carità", Corso Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pogliani
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale UPO, via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy.|Division of Internal Medicine, "AOU Maggiore della Carità", Corso Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marconi
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale UPO, via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy.|Division of Internal Medicine, "AOU Maggiore della Carità", Corso Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosalba
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Minisini
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale UPO, via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy.|Division of Internal Medicine, "AOU Maggiore della Carità", Corso Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Franzosi
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale UPO, via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alciato
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale UPO, via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy.|Division of Internal Medicine, "AOU Maggiore della Carità", Corso Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magri
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale UPO, via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy.|Emergency Medicine Department, "AOU Maggiore della Carità", Corso Mazzini 18, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Carlo
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Avanzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale UPO, via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy.|Division of Internal Medicine, "AOU Maggiore della Carità", Corso Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy.|IRCAD, Interdisciplinary Research Center of Autoimmune Diseases, via Solaroli 17, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pirisi
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine, "AOU Maggiore della Carità", Corso Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy.|IRCAD, Interdisciplinary Research Center of Autoimmune Diseases, via Solaroli 17, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Pier Paolo
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Sainaghi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019540:Area Under Curve; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000099255:Growth Arrest-Specific Protein 6
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D000099255:Growth Arrest-Specific Protein 6
keywords: cirrhosis; fibrosis; growth arrest-specific gene 6 (Gas6); liver elastography; liver stiffness