Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and hyaluronic acid levels as markers of fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease at the main tertiary referral hospital in Ghana: A case-control study design

Background and AimsLiver fibrosis leading to chronic liver disease (CLD) is a major cause of morbidity, mortality and health-care expenditure worldwide. The gold standard for diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis is histological analysis of liver tissue obtained by liver biopsy, an invasive procedure. Therefore, there is the need to identify noninvasive and inexpensive markers for diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis. This study aimed at evaluating the correlation of hyaluronic acid (HA) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH vitamin D) serum levels as markers of fibrosis with histologically staged and graded liver biopsies obtained from CLD patients. MethodsThis was a case-control study involving 40 CLD patients requiring liver biopsies and 40 controls. Liver biopsies were staged to determine the degree of fibrosis. Serum levels of 25-OH vitamin D and HA were determined using ELISA. Statistical analyses were performed to determine differences in HA and 25-OH vitamin D levels between controls and patients as well as to correlate the biomarkers with the stages of fibrosis. ResultsCLD patients showed significant (p < 0.001) increase in the levels of AST, ALT, GGT, compared to the controls. Patients also had significantly (p < 0.001) lower serum 25-OH vitamin D and higher HA (p < 0.001) levels compared to the controls. Additionally, 25-OH vitamin D levels of the CLD patients were significantly different across the stages of liver fibrosis likewise serum HA levels. Furthermore, 25-OH vitamin D levels inversely correlated with the severity of liver fibrosis. A significant negative correlation (r = -0.33, p < 0.05) between CLD patients' HA and 25-OH vitamin D were found. ConclusionCLD patients had significantly reduced serum 25-OH vitamin D and higher HA. Both markers correlated with the degree of liver fibrosis. These findings have major clinical translatable implication in the use of vitamin D supplementation in the management of CLD in Ghana.

Automated summary

Liver fibrosis is a major cause of chronic liver disease, with significant morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expenditure worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between hyaluronic acid (HA) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH vitamin D) serum levels as markers of fibrosis. The results showed that patients with liver disease had significantly reduced 25-OH vitamin D levels and elevated HA levels, both of which correlated with the degree of liver fibrosis.