Serum Wisteria floribunda agglutinin‐positive Mac‐2‐binding protein evaluates liver function and predicts prognosis in liver cirrhosis

• Published in: Journal of digestive diseases 2018-04, Vol.19 (4), p.242-253
• Main Authors: Xu, Wen Ping, Wang, Ze Rui, Zou, Xia, Zhao, Chen, Wang, Rui, Shi, Pei Mei, Yuan, Zong Li, Yang, Fang, Zeng, Xin, Wang, Pei Qin, Sultan, Sakhawat, Zhang, Yan, Xie, Wei Fen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cirrhosis; decompensation; Fibrosis; Hepatitis B; Infections; Liver cirrhosis; Liver diseases; liver reserve function; liver‐related death; Prognosis; Regression analysis; Wisteria floribunda; Wisteria floribunda agglutinin‐positive Mac‐2‐binding protein
• ISSN: 1751-2972; 1751-2980
• DOI: 10.1111/1751-2980.12596

OBJECTIVE Wisteria floribunda agglutinin‐positive Mac‐2‐binding protein (WFA+‐M2BP) is a novel glycobiomarker for evaluating liver fibrosis, but less is known about its role in liver cirrhosis (LC). This study aimed to investigate the utility of WFA+‐M2BP in evaluating liver function and predicting prognosis of cirrhotic patients. METHODS We retrospectively included 197 patients with LC between 2013 and 2016. Serum WFA+‐M2BP and various biochemical parameters were measured in all patients. With a median follow‐up of 23 months, liver‐related complications and deaths of 160 patients were recorded. The accuracy of WFA+‐M2BP in evaluating liver function, predicting decompensation and mortality were measured by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, logistic and Cox's regression analyses, respectively. RESULTS WFA+‐M2BP levels increased with elevated Child–Pugh classification, especially in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. ROC analysis confirmed the high reliability of WFA+‐M2BP for the assessment of liver function using Child–Pugh classification. WFA+‐M2BP was also significantly positively correlated with the model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD) score. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated WFA+‐M2BP as an independent predictor of clinical decompensation for compensated patients (odds ratio 11.958, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.876–76.226, P = 0.009), and multivariate Cox's regression analysis verified WFA+‐M2BP as an independent risk factor for liver‐related death in patients with HBV infection (hazards ratio 10.596, 95% CI 1.356–82.820, P = 0.024). CONCLUSION Serum WFA+‐M2BP is a reliable predictor of liver function and prognosis in LC and could be incorporated into clinical surveillance strategies for LC patients, especially those with HBV infection.