Plasma Interleukin‐6 Level: A Potential Prognostic Indicator of Emergent HBV‐Associated ACLF
Zhe-bin Wu, Yubao Zheng, Ke Wang, Zhishuo Mo, Xu Zhen, Ying Yan, Zhiliang Gao
Abstract
Objective . To identify markers that predict the progression to hepatitis B virus‐associated acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (HBV‐ACLF). Methods . We recruited 125 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) between September 2013 and March 2017. During hospitalization, 25 patients progressed to LF and were classified as the LF group, while the remaining 100 patients were classified as the non‐LF (NLF) group. We compared the kinetic changes in clinical and immune indicators including age, total bilirubin level, prothrombin time, model for end‐stage liver disease score, interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐8, and IL‐10 cytokine levels, and number of T helper 17 and regulatory T cells between groups to determine their association with progression to HBV‐ACLF. The prognostic value of clinical and immune indicators was determined using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) value. Results . Cox regression analysis suggested that the plasma IL‐6 level could predict CHB progression to HBV‐ACLF (relative risk = 1.082, 95% confidence interval: 1.006–1.164; P = 0.034). The AUC value, sensitivity, and specificity of baseline IL‐6 level for predicting HBV‐ACLF were 82.63%, 83.3%, and 82.9%, respectively ( P = 0.001). Conclusion . A high plasma IL‐6 level in CHB patients could be an early biomarker for HBV‐ACLF.