Circulating miR-122 in patients with non-toxic acute acetaminophen ingestions

Introduction: MicroRNA-122 (miR-122) is a novel biomarker of liver injury and has been proposed as an early predictor of acetaminophen-associated hepatotoxicity. However, there is little data on miR-122 in patients with nontoxic acute acetaminophen ingestions. Methods: This was an observational study of patients with a history of acute acetaminophen ingestion and measured acetaminophen concentrations below the treatment nomogram and who did not receive antidotal treatment. Fold increase in miR-122 expression was measured from the remnant sample corresponding with the timed serum acetaminophen concentration used to determine need for antidotal treatment. Results: Ten patients met inclusion criteria with a four-hour acetaminophen concentration below the nomogram line (mean: 73.4 mu g/mL). There was no significant difference in mean fold change of miR-122 expression between the acetaminophen exposed patients and negative controls [(0.82, IQR: 0.27, 0.77) vs (1.24, IQR: 0.54, 1.98), p = 0.33]. Conclusion: miR-122 was not elevated in patients with acute acetaminophen ingestions with timed acetaminophen concentrations below the nomogram line. These data help to further characterize patterns of miR-122 in patients with acute acetaminophen exposures.

Automated summary

The role of miR-122 as a biomarker of liver injury in patients with acute acetaminophen ingestion remains controversial. This study found no significant increase in miR-122 expression in patients with acetaminophen concentrations below the treatment nomogram, suggesting that miR-122 may not be a reliable biomarker in this population.