Table 2.
Association of cfDNA levels with features of disease severity in NAFLD patients
| Parameter | cfDNA fragment | Median (range) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liver stiffness | ≤7.0 kPa (n = 45) | >7.0 kPa (n = 13) | ||
| 90 bp | 3.16 (1.29–7.31) | 6.05 (2.41–23.13) | <0.001 | |
| 222 bp | 11.32 (6.05–18.28) | 14.41 (9.27–22.90) | 0.0041 | |
| ≤9.6 kPa (n = 48) | >9.6 kPa (n = 10) | |||
| 90 bp | 3.22 (1.29–8.17) | 5.78 (2.41–23.13) | 0.011 | |
| 222 bp | 11.35 (6.05–19.74) | 14.27 (9.27–22.90) | 0.059 | |
| Inflammatory activity | ALT ≤ ULN (n = 32) | ALT > ULN (n = 26) | ||
| 90 bp | 3.08 (1.29–23.13) | 3.93 (2.19–8.62) | 0.26 | |
| 222 bp | 11.20 (6.92–22.90) | 12.89 (6.05–19.74) | 0.23 | |
| AST ≤ ULN (n = 40) | AST > ULN (n = 18) | |||
| 90 bp | 3.05 (1.29–8.17) | 5.18 (1.38–23.13) | 0.038 | |
| 222 bp | 11.32 (6.05–19.74) | 13.79 (8.66–22.90) | 0.14 | |
| Ferritin ≤ ULN (n = 40) | Ferritin > ULN (n = 17) | |||
| 90 bp | 3.21 (1.29–8.17) | 4.70 (2.19–23.13) | 0.026 | |
| 222 bp | 11.20 (6.05–19.74) | 13.25 (10.0–22.90) | 0.0071 | |
| Steatosis | CAP ≤ 282 dB/m (n = 16) | CAP > 282 dB/m (n = 42) | ||
| 90 bp | 3.51 (1.38–7.56) | 3.71 (1.29–23.13) | 0.12 | |
| 222 bp | 12.00 (6.05–18.28) | 11.49 (6.91–22.90) | 0.083 | |
| Fat fraction | Fat fraction | |||
| (1 H-MRS) ≤10% (n = 25) | (1 H-MRS) >10% (n = 33) | |||
| 90 bp | 2.97 (1.28–8.62) | 3.90 (1.38–23.13) | 0.13 | |
| 222 bp | 11.35 (6.92–18.28) | 12.35 (6.05–22.90) | 0.34 | |
Values presented as median and range (ng/mL), p-values are taken from a linear mixed model with sex as a covariate and PCR-batch as a random term
1 H-MRS single-proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, CAP controlled attenuation parameter, rHLC relative hepatic lipid content, ALT alanine aminotransferase, AST aspartate aminotransferase, ULN upper limit of normal