Association of Mac-2-binding protein glycosylation isomer level with nutritional status in chronic liver disease

Mac-2-binding protein glycosylation isomer is useful to predict muscle cramps in patients with chronic liver disease

Muscle cramps are frequently overlooked and worsen the quality of life in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Therefore, a valuable biomarker for predicting muscle cramps is required in the clinical setting. This study aimed to investigate whether the serum Mac-2-binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) levels, a reliable liver fibrosis marker, could predict muscle cramps in patients with CLD. This retrospective study included 80 patients with CLD. Muscle cramps were assessed using a questionnaire regarding their presence, frequency, pain severity, and duration. The associated predictors were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. The diagnostic accuracy and optimal cutoff values were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves. Of the 80 patients, 55% had muscle cramps and showed significantly higher serum M2BPGi levels than those without them (4.54 cutoff index [COI] vs 2.20; P = .001). Multivariate analysis revealed that M2BPGi (odds ratio [ORs], 1.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.003-1.42; P = .046) was independently associated with the presence of muscle cramps. The optimal COI value for predicting muscle cramps was 3.95, and the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were 61.4%, 80.6%, 79.4%, 63.0%, and 70.0%, respectively. Patients with a COI value ≥3.95 had a 2-fold higher incidence of muscle cramps than patients with a COI value <3.95 (79% vs 37%; P < .001). M2BPGi levels were also associated with the duration of muscle cramps. Serum M2BPGi appears useful as a biomarker for predicting muscle cramps in patients with CLD.

Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer predicts tolerability and clinical outcome of lenvatinib therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Many patients with hepatocellular carcinoma present with impaired hepatic function, which often requires interruption or withdrawal of lenvatinib due to associated adverse events. We aimed to identify pre-treatment predictors of tolerability and clinical outcome of lenvatinib therapy.

METHODS

Eighty patients who received lenvatinib at our institution between 2018 and 2020 were included in this study. We assessed essential factors associated with prolonged progression-free survival (PFS), using Cox proportional hazards model. We also investigated the correlation between the factor identified as contributing most to PFS and the relative dose intensity (RDI), response rate, and duration of treatment with lenvatinib.

RESULTS

Pre-treatment level of Mac-2-binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) showed significant association with PFS (hazard ratio = 0.52, P = .0358). Low M2BPGi levels (<1.5) correlated significantly with longer PFS than higher levels (P = .0003). Patients with M2BPGi <1.5 achieved significantly higher RDI, objective response rate, and disease control rate, and maintained lenvatinib treatment for longer than those with baseline values ≥1.5. Patients with M2BPGi ≥1.5 had a higher incidence of adverse events such as fatigue and anorexia.

CONCLUSIONS

Baseline M2BPGi levels may predict the tolerability and treatment response to lenvatinib. Patients with high M2BPGi levels may less likely to benefit from lenvatinib therapy.

Mac-2 binding protein glycan isomer as noninvasive tool to assess liver fibrosis in children with chronic liver disease

AIM

This study is aimed to measure the value of serum Mac-2 binding protein glycan isomer (M2BPGI) in children with chronic liver diseases in comparison with liver biopsy and serum biomarkers.

METHODS

Comparative cross-sectional study included 100 children with chronic liver diseases and 50 healthy age/sex-matched control group. All subjects were evaluated via medical history, clinical, radiological and laboratory examinations. Liver biopsy was performed for studied patients and serum M2BPGI level was measured by Enzyme Linked Immune Sorbent Assay (ELISA) in all studied subjects.

RESULTS

Serum M2BPGI level increased more significantly in chronic liver disease patients (6.04 ± 2.72 ng/ml) than in healthy controls (1.12 ± 0.83 ng/ml) (P < 0.001). M2BPGI level was significantly elevated with progressive fibrosis (P < 0.001), and differed significantly between high and low Child-Pugh score, pediatric end-stage liver disease score and model for end-stage liver disease score score. Serum M2BPGI was correlated with serum biomarkers and degree of fibrosis in patients.

CONCLUSION

M2BPGI could be used as one of noninvasive tools for detecting and staging of hepatic fibrosis in Egyptian children with chronic liver disease.

Dose Intensity/Body Surface Area Ratio is a Novel Marker Useful for Predicting Response to Lenvatinib against Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Lenvatinib was recently approved as a novel first-line molecular targeted agent (MTA) for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The importance of relative dose intensity (RDI) has been shown in the treatment of various types of cancers. However, RDI may not accurately reflect the treatment intensity of lenvatinib, as it is the first oral MTA where the dose is based on the patient's weight. We aimed to evaluate the utility of 2M-DBR (the delivered dose intensity/body surface area ratio at 60 days) by comparing the relationship between 2M-DBR, 2M-RDI (RDI at 60 days), and the therapeutic response. The therapeutic response to lenvatinib was evaluated in 45 patients who underwent computed tomography 8-12 weeks after treatment initiation. We also investigated the clinical factors associated with high 2M-DBR. The area under the receiver operating characteristic of 2M-DBR that predicts the response to lenvatinib was higher than that of 2M-RDI (0.8004 vs. 0.7778). Patients with high 2M-DBR achieved significantly better objective responses and disease control rates than those with low 2M-DBR (p < 0.0001 and 0.0008). Patients with high 2M-DBR experienced significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) than those with low 2M-DBR (p = 0.0001), while there was no significant correlation between 2M-RDI levels and PFS (p = 0.2198). Patients who achieved higher levels of 2M-DBR had a significantly better modified ALBI grade (p = 0.0437), better CONUT score (p = 0.0222), and higher BTR (p = 0.0281). Multivariate analysis revealed that high 2M-DBR was the only significant factor associated with longer PFS. In conclusion, 2M-DBR could be an important factor that reflects treatment intensity and useful for predicting the response to lenvatinib against HCC, instead of 2M-RDI.

Usefulness of Liver Stiffness on Ultrasound Shear-Wave Elastography for the Evaluation of Central Venous Pressure in Children With Heart Diseases

BACKGROUND

Liver stiffness on ultrasound shear-wave elastography (SWE) reflects central venous pressure (CVP) in adult patients with heart failure, but the association of liver stiffness on SWE with CVP in pediatric patients is not clear. The present study evaluated whether liver stiffness on SWE is useful as a non-invasive indicator of CVP in pediatric patients.Methods and Results:Liver stiffness was measured using ultrasound SWE in 79 patients aged <20 years with congenital heart diseases. None of the patients was found to have liver disease. Correlations between liver stiffness and other clinical variables, including CVP, were analyzed. CVP was the only factor independently and significantly correlated with liver stiffness in multivariate analysis. However, variables related to hepatic fibrosis did not correlate with liver stiffness.

CONCLUSIONS

Liver stiffness on ultrasound SWE is useful as a non-invasive indicator of CVP in children with heart diseases.

Combination of Mac-2 Binding Protein Glycosylation Isomer and Up-To-Seven Criteria as a Useful Predictor for Child-Pugh Grade Deterioration after Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the recommended first-line treatment for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In patients who became refractory to TACE, a treatment switch to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) needs to be considered. However, TACE could worsen liver function, thereby narrowing the time window for a switch to TKIs because TKIs are recommended for patients with Child-Pugh grade A (CP-A). We investigated the factors associated with CP grade deterioration after TACE. Among patients who underwent TACE, 125 patients with CP-A were enrolled. The cumulative CP grade deterioration rates were 20.3%, 27.1%, and 41.4% at six months, one year, and two years, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that factors associated with CP grade deterioration included high Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) levels (>2.00 cut-off index) and beyond the up-to-seven criteria. The cumulative CP grade deterioration rates of patients with high M2BPGi and beyond the up-to-seven criteria were 50.6% and 59.2% at six months and one year, respectively, which were significantly higher than for those in any other groups. The combination of M2BPGi and up-to-seven criteria could be a surrogate marker for predicting CP grade deterioration after TACE. In patients with intermediate-stage HCC, elevated M2BPGi levels, and beyond the up-to-seven criteria, an early treatment switch to TKIs should be considered to improve their prognosis.