Identification of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and 9 as Biomarker of Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy

Ann Hepatol. 2017 March-April;16(2):291-296. doi: 10.5604/16652681.1231589.

Abstract

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a severe liver disease uniquely occurring during pregnancy. In this study we aimed to identify novel biomarker for the diagnosis of ICP in Chinese population. 50 healthy pregnant women, 50 mild ICP patients and 48 severe ICP patients were enrolled for this study. Liver function tests, including serum total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase and cholyglycine, were performed in all participants. After an overnight fast serum levels of total bile acids (TBA), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 were measured, and their correlation with liver function tests were analyzed. The observed increase in serum TBA in ICP patients was not statistically significant which made it unreliable for diagnosis of ICP in Chinese population. On the other hand, both MMP-2 and MMP-9 serum levels exhibited a progressive and significant elevation in mild and severe ICP patients compared with healthy pregnant women, which also positively correlated with liver function tests. Serum levels of both MMP-2 and MMP-9 could be reliably used as laboratory abnormalities for accurate diagnosis and sensitive grading of ICP in Chinese population.

Keywords: Intrauterine fetal death; Liver Function Tests; Total bile acid; intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy; matrix metalloproteinase.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bile Acids and Salts / blood
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Case-Control Studies
  • China
  • Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / blood*
  • Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / diagnosis
  • Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / enzymology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / blood*
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / blood*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / blood*
  • Pregnancy Complications / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications / enzymology
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Bile Acids and Salts
  • Biomarkers
  • MMP2 protein, human
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
  • MMP9 protein, human
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9

Supplementary concepts

  • Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy