Plasma soluble CD 163 level as a marker of oesophageal varices in cirrhotic patients

Abstract

Background: Variceal bleeding (VB), the most common lethal complication of cirrhosis, associated with high mortality. Timely prediction of esophageal varices (EV) represents a real challenge for the medical team. This study evaluated the level of plasma soluble CD 163 as a marker of the presence of EVs and to compare it with other noninvasive clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic parameters as well as endoscopy.

Methods: This prospective controlled study was conducted on 80 adults. Gp I had no oesophageal varices, gp II had small varices, gp IIIa had large varices, gp IIIb are the same patients of gp IIIa but after eradication of varices and gp IV as healthy controls. Serum samples were assayed for soluble CD 163.

Results: soluble CD163 was statistically significant different between controls and all liver cirrhosis. it showed a statistically significant difference between group I and II (p = 0.009) and between group I and IIIa (p < 0.001) and between group II and IIIa (p < 0.001) but, no difference between group IIIa and IIIb (p = 0.179).

Conclusion: Serum soluble CD163 is a good noninvasive predictor for the presence of EVs and it may be used for grading of EVs. Its level does not change after esophageal varices eradication.

Trial registration: IRB No: 00007589 FWA No: 00015712 The Ethics Committee of the faculty of medicine Alexandria University.

Keywords: Hepatic, Cirrhosis, Varices, CD163, Endoscopy, Ultrasonography