Em. Kittl et al., Serum protein 90K/Mac-2BP is an independent predictor of disease severity during hepatitis C virus infection, CLIN CH L M, 38(3), 2000, pp. 205-208
The serum protein designated 90K/Mac-2BP has been found at elevated concent
rations in the sera of patients with various types of cancer and viral infe
ctions. The importance of the 90K/Mac-2BP serum concentrations in predictin
g the response towards interferon-alpha treatment for hepatitis C virus (HC
V) infection prompted us to utilize a new ELISA for soluble human 90K/Mac-2
BP to monitor the serum concentrations of this protein in our HCV-positive
patients. Seventy HCV-PCR and anti-HCV antibody positive patients were anal
yzed for their serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase. alanine aminotra
nsferase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, cholinesterase, HCV-viral load, viral
subtypes, and SOK/Mac-2BP. On correlation of age and SOK/Mac-2BP levels, we
found an apparent correlation that was proved rather to be a strong depend
ence of SOK/Mac-2BP concentrations on disease severity/duration, which incr
eases with age. Multiple correlation analysis demonstrated the independent
nature of SOK/Mac-2BP concentrations, underscoring the potential high utili
ty of this new marker. Our data corroborate the potential of the scavenger
receptor family protein SOK/Mac-2BP as an independent predictor of disease
severity during HCV infection.