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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 7, 2014; 20(33): 11865-11870
Published online Sep 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i33.11865
Published online Sep 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i33.11865
Association between serum alpha-fetoprotein levels and fatty liver disease: A cross-sectional study
Ping Xu, Cheng-Fu Xu, Xing-Yong Wan, Chao-Hui Yu, You-Ming Li, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China
Chao Shen, Peng Chen, International Health Care Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China
Gen-Yun Xu, Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: Xu P and Xu CF contributed equally to this work; Xu P, Xu CF, Yu CH, Chen P and Li YM designed the research; Xu P, Xu CF, Wan XY, Yu CH, Shen C, Chen P, Xu GY and Li YM performed the research; Xu P, Xu CF, Wan XY and Shen C analyzed the data; Xu P, Xu CF, Wan XY and Yu CH wrote the paper.
Supported by National Key Basic Research Development Program, No. 2012CB524905; National Science and Technology Support Plan Project, No. 2012BAI06B04; National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81100278, No. 81170378, No. 81230012, and No. 81270487; International Science and Technology Cooperation Projects of Zhejiang Province, No. 2013C24010; and Science Foundation of Health Bureau of Zhejiang Province, No. 2012RCA026
Correspondence to: You-Ming Li, MD, FACP, Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China. xiaofu@zju.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-571-87236532 Fax: +86-571-87236611
Received: January 14, 2014
Revised: February 27, 2014
Accepted: May 23, 2014
Published online: September 7, 2014
Revised: February 27, 2014
Accepted: May 23, 2014
Published online: September 7, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Fatty liver disease (FLD) is a common liver disease that may progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In this study, we observed that serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels are significantly increased in subjects with FLD, and that AFP levels are significantly associated with metabolic parameters. Univariate logistic analysis showed that elevated serum AFP levels are associated with an increased risk of FLD. However, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that AFP is not independently associated with the risk factors for FLD. Our results suggest a significant association between AFP and FLD, as well as suggesting that AFP acts as a cofactor, but not as an independent factor, for FLD.