Serum anandamide level as a potential indicator for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease severity

Bibliographic Information
Authors: Ramadan A.; Khalaf A.R.; El Ray A.; Saad Y.
Journal: European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Publisher: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins
Publication Date: 12 March 2021
Volume / Issue: Volume 33 / Issue 1
Pages: E363–E367
ISSN: 0954691X
DOI: 10.1097/MEG.0000000000002092
Scopus: View on Scopus
PubMed: 33731590
Document Type: Article
Authors and Affiliations
Ramadan A., Department of Endemic Medicine and Hepato-Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt; Khalaf A.R., Endemic Medicine Department-of 6th October University; El Ray A., Endemic Medicine Department-of 6th October University, Hepatogastroenterology Department Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt; Saad Y., Department of Endemic Medicine and Hepato-Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
Abstract
Introduction and aim Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a very common disease, ranging from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and is considered the hepatic expression of metabolic syndrome. Liver biopsy is currently considered the gold standard in diagnosis of NAFLD; however, it is an invasive technique and carries many risks. The serum anandamide level is recently discovered to play an important role as the potential indicator for NAFLD severity. The purpose of the study is to determine the association of endocannabinoid metabolite anandamide and NAFLD severity and to investigate its association with anthropometric and metabolic features in NAFLD patients. Methodology A case-control study on 36 NAFLD biopsy-proven NAFLD patients and 15 healthy volunteers. They were subjected to full clinical history and examination, laboratory tests, abdominal ultrasound and serological testing of anadamide. Results The anadamide level was significantly higher among NAFLD subgroups (simple steatosis and NASH) vs. the normal group (1.1, 0.29 vs. 0.2 P value = 0.00085), with cutoff 0.58 in the NASH group (accuracy 89%; sensitivity 66% and specificity 100%) (P value < 0.01). Conclusion Anandamide could be a specific serum marker for NASH and can be used to detect NAFLD severity. © 2021 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. All rights reserved.
Keywords
Anandamide level; liver biopsy; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; Arachidonic Acids; Case-Control Studies; Endocannabinoids; Humans; Liver; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Polyunsaturated Alkamides; Predictive Value of Tests; amide; anandamide; arachidonic acid derivative; endocannabinoid; case control study; complication; human; metabolism; nonalcoholic fatty liver; pathology; predictive value
Citation Information
Scopus Citations: 3
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