Fetuin-A: a relevant novel serum biomarker for non-invasive diagnosis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD): a retrospective case-control study

Objectives

To determine how fetuin-A contributes to diagnosing and assessing MASLD severity.

Methods

Fifty MASLD patients and fifty healthy control participants were involved in this retrospective case-control research. Abdominal ultrasonography, fibroscan with controlled attenuated parameter scan (CAP scan), laboratory investigation (including fetuin-A assessment), clinical examination, and history-taking were performed on every case.

Results

Fetuin-A level was considerably higher in the Cases group (1154.85 ± 629.89) than in the Control group (505.29 ± 150.4) (p < 0.001). Fetuin-A had significant validity in the prediction of MASLD at a cut-off > 702.5 with 82% sensitivity, 90% specificity, and 86% overall accuracy.

Conclusion

One possible marker for MASLD diagnosis could be fetuin-A. Furthermore, a substantial association between such marker and the severity of the disease as it revealed a significant correlation with ultrasound grading and fibroscan with controlled attenuated parameters.

Trial registration

1- Pan African Clinical Trial Registry.

Unique Identifying number/registration ID: PACTR202309644280965.

URL: https://pactr.samrc.ac.za/TrialDisplay.aspx?TrialID=26860.

Registration Approval date: 21/09/2023.

2- ClinicalTrials.gov.

Unique Identifying number /registration ID: NCT06097039.

URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06097039?cond=NCT06097039&rank=1.

Registration Approval date: 25/10/2023.