Object: Studies have shown a link between homocysteine (Hcy) and heart diseases, kidney diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, liver diseases, and other pathological conditions. However, the relationship between Hcy and liver fibrosis (LF) is unclear. Here, we studied the link between plasma Hcy concentration and LF.
Methods: We determined and recorded the plasma Hcy concentration, general biochemical parameters, and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) in 1582 subjects, followed by statistical data analyses.
Results: During different stages of LF, we found a considerable difference (p < 0.001 unless specified) in body mass index (BMI), sex, age, Hcy, the levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT; P = 0.012), triglycerides (TG; P = 0.006), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), fasting blood glucose (FBS), and platelet count (PLT). There was a strong association between the plasma Hcy concentration and the serum biomarkers of LF (P < 0.001) and the values of LSM (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: The plasma Hcy concentration was substantially different among different stages of LF. The higher the plasma Hcy concentration, the more evident was the degree of LF.
Keywords: liver fibrosis, homocysteine, FibroScan