Serum zonulin levels in patients with liver cirrhosis: Prognostic implications

Table 1 Baseline clinical and laboratory characteristics of the patients

Examined parameter		Baseline value
Sex as M/F, n (%)		71/45 (61.2)
Age in yr1		59 ± 13
BMI, kg/m2		27.5 ± 5.0
Liver disease etiology, n (%)
	Chronic hepatitis B	25 (21.6)
	Chronic hepatitis C	20 (17.2)
	Alcohol abuse	35 (30.2)
	NAFLD	20 (17.2)
	Autoimmune hepatitis	5 (4.3)
	Other	11 (9.5)
CTP class, n (%)
	A	78 (67.2)
	B	33 (28.4)
	C	5 (4.4)
	CTP score	6.2 ± 1.6
MELD score		11.0 ± 3.9
Decompensated cirrhosis, n (%)		61 (52.6)
History of HE, n (%)		37 (31.9)
Ascites, n (%)		56 (48.3)
Bilirubin in mg/dL		1.3 ± 0.9
Creatinine in mg/dL		1.0 ± 1.2
Albumin in g/L		41.0 ± 4.0
Platelet count as × 109/L		121 ± 49
INR		1.3 ± 0.3

¹Quantitative variables are expresses as mean ± SD.

BMI: Body mass index; CTP: Child-Turcotte-Pugh; F: Female; HE: Hepatic encephalopathy; INR: International normalized ratio; M: Male; MELD: Model for end-stage liver disease; NAFLD: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Table 2 Univariate analysis of factors associated to liver disease decompensation

Examined parameter, baseline values	Patients who remained compensated during follow-up, n = 24	Patients who proceed to decompensated disease during follow-up, n = 12	P value
Sex as M/F	13/11	3/9	0.157
Age in yr1	59 ± 12	61 ± 14	0.710
Liver-specific treatment, Y/N	13/11	9/3	0.292
High-grade varices, Y/N	6/24	6/12	0.157
Platelet count as × 109/L	138 ± 54	105 ± 46	0.094
Albumin in g/dL	3.64 ± 0.53	4.13 ± 0.51	0.013
Spleen diameter in cm	13.1 ± 2.5	14.0 ± 2.3	0.325
Portal diameter in cm	1.29 ± 0.22	1.27 ± 0.21	0.768
Liver stiffness in kPa	19.7 ± 6.9	23.9 ± 9.2	0.139
Spleen stiffness in kPa	31.1 ± 7.4	36.1 ± 9.3	0.087
Serum zonulin levels in ng/mL	3.19 ± 1.02	4.15 ± 0.95	0.011

¹Quantitative variables are expressed as mean±standard deviation.

F: Female; M: Male; N: No; Y: Yes.

Table 3 Univariate analysis of factors associated to transplant free survival

Examined parameter, baseline values	Patients alive/not transplanted at the end of the follow-up, n = 54	Patients transplanted or dead, n = 9	P value
Age in yr1	59 ± 15	66 ± 14	0.238
Liver-specific treatment, Y/N	28/26	4/5	0.474
CTP score	5.9 ± 1.0	7.4 ± 1.4	< 0.001
MELD score	11.3 ± 3.0	11.7 ± 3.6	0.772
High-risk varices, Y/N	19/54	5/9	0.241
Platelet count as × 109/L	120 ± 52	109 ± 40	0.602
Albumin in g/dL	3.87 ± 0.62	3.20 ± 0.62	0.010
Spleen diameter in cm	13.7 ± 2.8	15.2 ± 2.5	0.154
Portal diameter in cm	1.27 ± 0.21	1.55 ± 0.25	0.002
Liver stiffness in kPa	22.5 ± 9.2	27.9 ± 10.3	0.127
Spleen stiffness in kPa	35.0 ± 8.8	37.9 ± 6.9	0.383
Serum zonulin levels in ng/mL	3.70 ± 1.36	3.17 ± 1.21	0.300

¹Quantitative variables are expressed as mean ± SD.

CTP: Child-Turcotte-Pugh; MELD: Model for end-stage liver disease; N: No; Y: Yes.