Perspective for evaluation of microrna in plasma and bile for differential diagnosis of obstructive biliary tract disease

OBJECTIVE

Introduction: Cholelithiasisis diagnosed in 10-25% of the adult population. The manifestation of cholelithiasis in the form of acute cholecystitis, cholangitis, jaundice etc. occurs with a probability of 2-3% or more per year depending on the risk factors. Most often, it manifests it self as acute calculous cholecystitis. Up to 20% of such patients have additional calculi in extrahepatic bile ducts requiring simultaneous surgical intervention. Currently, the algorithm for diagnosis of concomitant choledocholithiasis in acute cholecystitis is multilevel and it needs to be simplified and improved. Conventional non-invasive diagnostic techniques have low specificity and sensitivity. A new safe diagnostic test is needed for the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis in cholecystitis in order to improve the results of surgical treatment of patients. The aim of the study - to determine the prospects for diagnosis of microRNA for differential diagnosis of obstructive diseases of the biliary tract on the basis of the literature data.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Materials and methods: The analysis of the selected international literature in the period of 1991-2018 concerning the studies of microRNA in cholestatic liver diseases was carried out. The search for literature was conducted using Google Scholar and PubMed search engines for the following keywords: microRNA, cholestasis, choledocholithiasis, acute cholecystitis, biliary obstruction in their various combinations.

RESULTS

Review: MicroRNA is a specific post-transcriptional regulator of gene expression in all organs and systems of the body. There are specific types of miRNAs for different tissues. The most studied type of liver miRNA is miR-122. The studies showed better sensitivity and specificity of the detection of miR-122 both in the plasma and in the bile for the diagnosis of pathological liver conditions compared with conventional liver tests (aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase). Regarding the cholestatic hepatocyte injury occurring in choledocholithiasis, the following types of miRNA were identified: 122, 21, 29, 125, 222, let-7, 98 etc. Their concentrations in plasma and bile can be used as a diagnostic test for the presence of concomitant benign cholestasis in acute cholecystitis. Moreover, these markers can be used for the differential diagnosis of cholestasis of different etiology.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of microRNA in bile and plasma can be used as an additional non-invasive method for diagnosis of cholestasis induced by choledocholithiasis in acute calculous cholecystitis. Further studyis needed to identify the most optimal algorithm for the administration of microRNA in clinical practice.