IMM-07 : The Relationship between sST2 and Liver Function Tests

Background: The soluble ST2 (sST2), an interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor family members has been reported to be a valuable risk stratification biomarker for cardiac diseases. To determine the potentially of being used for assessing the liver functions, we evaluated the relationship between levels of sST2 and routine liver function tests (LFTs) in health screening subjects. Methods: We collected data of sST2 levels and routine LFTs (AST, ALT, ALP, rGTP, total protein, albumin, total bilirubin, direct-bilirubin) from 21,412 health screening subjects (male 10,597, female 10,818, aged 15 to 92 years). The sST2 test and LFTs were done by Gemini combo, Germany and Hitachi 7600-020, Japan respectively. The correlation between sST2 levels and LFTs results was analysed by the Pearson’s correlation coefficient, Chi-square test, t-test, the percent concordance rate for abnormal test results. Results: The significant correlation was identified between sST2 and five LFTs [AST (r=0.211, P<0.01), ALT (r=0.134, P<0.01), ALP (r=0.132, P<0.01), rGTP (r=0.188, P<0.01) and direct bilirubin (r=0.103, P<0.01)]. The correlation between sST2 and another four LFTs [total protein (r=0.081, P<0.01), triglyceride (r=0.043, P<0.01), LDH (r=-0.043, P<0.01), total bilirubin (r=0.075, P<0.01)] was weak, even though P values were less than 0.01. The differences between mean levels of the sST2 normal group and The sST2 abnormal group were significant (P<0.01)in AST, ALT, ALP, rGTP, Total bilirubin and albumin. The concordance rates for abnormal test results between sST2 and LFTs were 76.5% in AST,79.8% in ALT,89.5% in ALP, 68.1% in rGTP and 93.0% in albumin. Conclusion: sST2 is significantly related to the liver functions.