Serum Wisteria floribunda agglutinin‐positive human Mac‐2 binding protein may predict liver fibrosis and progression to hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

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Abstract
Aim: Serum glycosylated Wisteria floribunda agglutinin‐positive Mac‐2 binding protein (WFA+‐M2BP) is a reliable, non‐invasive marker of liver fibrosis. This study assessed the ability of WFA+‐M2BP to diagnose liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and evaluated WFA+‐M2BP as a predictor of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development.Methods: Serum WFA+‐M2BP values were retrospectively evaluated in 112 treatment‐naïve patients with HBV‐related chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis who had undergone liver biopsy at our hospital.Results: Serum WFA+‐M2BP levels were significantly related with liver fibrosis (r = 0.3725, P = 0.001). Fibrosis stage F2, F3, and F4 had a cut‐off index of 0.94, 1.26, and 1.26, respectively. For diagnosing F ≥ 2 fibrosis, the area under the receiver–operating characteristic curve for WFA+‐M2BP was 0.713 and comparable with those of other non‐invasive fibrosis markers, such as hyaluronic acid, type IV collagen 7S, aspartate aminotransferase‐to‐platelet ratio index, fibrosis‐4 index, serum albumin, and platelet count. Multivariate analysis identified male, WFA+‐M2BP ≥0.71, alanine aminotransferase ≥80 IU/L, and platelet count 9/L as independent risk factors for the development of HCC in patients with HBV infection.Conclusions: Serum WFA+‐M2BP values appear to be useful for assessing liver fibrosis stage and are independently associated with HCC development in patients with chronic HBV infection.

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