Research Article Details
Article ID: | A18171 |
PMID: | 27309736 |
Source: | Horm Res Paediatr |
Title: | Serum Pentraxin 3 Fragment as a Noninvasive Marker of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Obese Children and Adolescents. |
Abstract: | BACKGROUND/AIMS: It was suggested that serum pentraxin 3 (PTX3) levels could differentiate obese children with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) from those with simple steatosis. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of serum PTX3 fragment levels in the diagnosis of NASH and the assessment of its severity in obese children with suspected nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS: Fifty obese children were compared to 25 matched controls. All were subjected to history taking, anthropometric measurements, and abdominal ultrasonography, as well as laboratory assessments of liver functions, fasting lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index, fasting glucose/insulin ratio, and serum PTX3. RESULTS: PTX3 was higher in obese cases than controls (p = 0.0001). Eighty percent of the cases had NAFLD with progressive increases in PTX3 levels as the severity of fatty liver increased (p = 0.0001). Moreover, PTX3 was higher in cases with elevated liver enzymes (3.205 ± 0.77 U/l) than those with normal liver enzymes (2.77 + 0.69 U/l, p < 0.0001). A cutoff value of 3.03 U/l differentiated fatty liver from NASH with a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 86%. CONCLUSION: Noninvasive monitoring of serum PTX3 fragment levels in obese patients with suspected NAFLD may be used as a reliable tool for differentiating NASH from simple fatty liver. |
DOI: | 10.1159/000446566 |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs |
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Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
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I14 | 9970 | Obesity | An overnutrition that is characterized by excess body fat, traditionally defined as an elevated ratio of weight to height (specifically 30 kilograms per meter squared), has_material_basis_in a multifactorial etiology related to excess nutrition intake, decreased caloric utilization, and genetic susceptibility, and possibly medications and certain disorders of metabolism, endocrine function, and mental illness. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity | disease of metabolism/acquired metabolic disease/ nutrition disease/overnutrition | Details |
Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D328 | Serine | Chemical drug | DB00133 | SRR | Improve insulin resistance | Under clinical trials | Details |
D010 | Amoxicillin | Chemical drug | DB01060 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D266 | Pentoxifylline | Chemical drug | DB00806 | ADORA2A antagonist; ADORA1 antagonist; PDE4A inhibitor; PDE3B inhibitor; PDE4B inhibitor; PDE5A inhibitor; PDE8A inhibitor; PDE4C inhibitor; PDE11A inhibitor; PDE7A inhibitor; PDE7B inhibitor; PDE4D inhibitor; PDE3A inhibitor | Anti-inflammatory; Cardiovascular drug | Under clinical trials | Details |
D080 | Citrulline | Chemical drug | DB00155 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D094 | Cysteamine | Chemical drug | DB00847 | GSS stimulant | Renal drug | Under clinical trials | Details |
D095 | Cysteamine bitartrate | Chemical drug | DB00847 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |