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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]