Serum cholinesterase: A predictive biomarker of hepatic reserves in chronic hepatitis D

AIM To determine the predictive performance of cholinesterase compared to existing prognostic models in evaluating liver function in patients with chronic hepatitis D. METHODS In an observational, cross-sectional and retrospective study, consecutive patients with hepatitis D cirrhosis were evaluated. Demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters were recorded. Serum cholinesterase levels were correlated with existing scoring models for chronic liver disease and Liver function tests. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to find an optimal cholinesterase level predicting ascites, Child Turcotte Pugh (CTP) score ≥ 10, model for end stage liver disease (MELD) score ≥ 15, baseline-event-anticipation (BEA) score for hepatitis D ≥ 5 and the aspartate transaminase to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) ≥ 1.5. RESULTS This study investigated 233 patients with chronic liver disease due to hepatitis D; 192 were male, median age 42 (16-69 years). Fifty patients had ascites and 15 had encephalopathy. One hundred and sixty-seven (71.7%) were in Child class A, 52 (22.3%) in Child class B and 14 (5.0%) in class C. A MELD score of 15 or more was seen in 24 patients. Cholinesterase levels correlated well with the INR, albumin, CTP score, MELD, MELD sodium, BEA and APRI scores (P < 0.001 each). Area under the ROC curve for ascites, CTP ≥ 10, MELD ≥ 15, BEA ≥ 5, APRI ≥ 1.5 was 0.836, 0.966, 0.913, 0.871 and 0.825 respectively (P < 0.001 each). Cut off values of cholinesterase (IU/L) for predicting ascites, CTP ≥ 10, MELD ≥ 15, BEA ≥ 5 and APRI ≥ 1.5 were < 3812, < 2853, < 2829, < 4719 and < 3954 with a sensitivity of 80%, 100%, 91.67%, 82.50%, 58.0% and specificity of 81.97%, 84.79%, 87.56%, 77.06% and 55.64% respectively. CONCLUSION Serum cholinesterase demonstrates promising correlations with serum albumin, INR and CTP, MELD, BEA and APRI scores and is predictive of liver reserves in hepatitis D cirrhosis.