HDL-related biomarkers are robust predictors of survival in patients with chronic liver failure

People who suffer from cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) have low levels of cholesterol carried by high-density lipoproteins (HDL-C). These alterations are connected to inflammation, which is a problem in severe liver disease. Here we show in 508 patients with cirrhosis that both, reduced levels of HDL-C and apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I, the main protein carried by HDL), are closely linked to the severity of liver failure, its complications and fatal outcome. Both HDL-C and apoA-I can be easily measured in clinical laboratories and are as good as currently used prognostic scores calculated from several laboratory values by complex formulas.
Source: Journal of Hepatology - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Source Type: research