Journal Article Epublish
PubMed: 39995674 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1544917
Association of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein with hepatic fibrosis in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.
Front Immunol 16:1544917
Authors: Yunfei Wu, Guojun Zheng, Fan Zhang, Wenjian Li
Affiliations
- Department of Pathology, Changzhou Third People's Hospital, Changzhou, China. Changzhou Clinical College, Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou, China.
- Changzhou Clinical College, Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou, China. Clinical Laboratory, Changzhou Third People's Hospital, Changzhou, China.
- Changzhou Clinical College, Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou, China. Department of Endocrinology, Changzhou Third People's Hospital, Changzhou, China. Department of Clinical Nutrition, Changzhou Third People's Hospital, Changzhou, China.
- Changzhou Clinical College, Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou, China. Department of Urology, Changzhou Third People's Hospital, Changzhou, China.
Abstract
Objective
This study aimed to investigate the association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels and hepatic fibrosis in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and assess its predictive efficacy.
Methods
The study included 1,477 participants from the United States and 1,531 from China diagnosed with MASLD. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) were assessed by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) to evaluate the presence and degree of hepatic fibrosis and steatosis. The relationship between hsCRP levels and hepatic fibrosis in MASLD patients was examined using multivariable-adjusted and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models. Additionally, subgroup analyses were conducted to investigate the potential heterogeneity among different characteristic subgroups.
Results
The results demonstrated a significant correlation between elevated hsCRP levels and an increased risk of significant fibrosis, advanced fibrosis, and cirrhosis in the US cohort of MASLD patients (OR 2.22, 1.69, and 2.85, respectively; all P <0.05). The results of the Chinese cohort were consistent with those of the US cohort, and there was a significant and positive correlation between hsCRP levels and the risk of hepatic fibrosis in patients with MASLD (OR 2.53, 3.85, and 3.78, respectively, all P <0.001). The RCS analysis revealed a significant non-linear relationship between hsCRP levels and the degree of hepatic fibrosis, with disparate inflection point values observed across different cohorts (approximately 9 mg/L in the US cohort and 4 mg/L in the Chinese cohort). The impact of hsCRP levels on the risk of hepatic fibrosis varied across different subgroups with distinct characteristics.
Conclusion
The present study demonstrated a significant correlation between hsCRP levels and the degree of hepatic fibrosis in patients with MASLD, with notable dose-response relationships and subgroup differences.
MeSH
Liver Diseases, Fibrosis, C-Reactive Protein, Liver, Immune System Diseases