Evaluation of cystatin C, fibronectin and alpha-feto protein as biochemical markers in patients with liver diseases

Objective: We investigate the serum level of cystatin C as biochemical marker that can determine the severity of tissue injury resulting from chronic liver diseases. Also we investigate other two parameters-alphfetoprotein & fibronectin-serum levels as biomarkers of chronic liver disease progression. Study design: This study was carried out on 66 patients (50 males & 16 female). We assessed serum levels of cystatin C, alphafetoprtotein, albumin, ALT, AST, creatinine, urea, plasma level of fibronectin and HCV genotype. Results: We found that (a positive & a negative) correlations between serum levels of cyctatin C and plasma level of fibronectin (respectively) and progression of liver diseases. Also we found that a positive correlation between plasma level of fibronectin and both serum level of albumin and prothrombin time. We found a positive correlation between serum level of alpha-fetoprotein and liver bilharzial hepatic fibrosis. In addition we found that HCV genotype 4 was the prevalent type in Egyptian patients. Conclusion: Serum levels of cystatin C, alphafetoprotein and plasma level of fibronectin can be useful markers in long-term monitoring of the progression of liver diseases.