Elevated Ferritin/CRP Ratio: A Predictor of Liver Damage in Alcoholic Liver Disease Patients

Abstract

Background: Alcoholic liver diseases are becoming a new threat for the middle age people which is affecting the socioeconomical standards of developing country like India. Due to chronic consumption of alcohol multiple problems associated with overall liver health can lead to pathological conditions like liver (steatosis) to alcoholic hepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The pathogenesis of ALD is an interplay of factors associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. The present study aimed to evaluate the association between ferritin and CRP in ALD and its severity.

Materials and methods: The study included total 190 subjects. Out of which 90 patients diagnosed with ALD and 100 were healthy controls. The current study evaluated serum levels of ferritin and CRP were measured, and the ratio was calculated for each subject.

Results: This study investigated the Ferritin/C-Reactive Protein (CRP) ratio in patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and compared it among ALD subgroups according to the severity of the disease. Statistical analysis showed significantly higher ferritin levels and CRP levels in the ALD group compared to controls. The Ferritin/CRP ratio was found to be a potential biomarker for the early detection of inflammation and iron overload in patients with ALD, providing insight into the pathophysiology of the disease. The circulatory levels of serum ferritin and group than healthy controls (550.4 ± 210.6/ 108.2 ± 56.4) and Serum CRP levels were high in ALD as compared to control (12.7 ± 6.9/ 3.1 ± 1.7) respectively. Further it was observed that the ferritin /CRP ratio was well correlated with severity of ALD (r=0.95). These results suggest that the Ferritin/CRP ratio could be a useful adjunct in the clinical management of ALD.

Conclusion: The present study concluded that oxidative stress marker serum ferritin and inflammatory marker CRP levels were elevated in ALD and Ferritin /CRP ratio also showed its statistically significant correlation severity of ALD. Hence the present study like to indicate the role of oxidative stress in liver damage in ALD and provide an insight about the diagnosis, staging as well base for therapeutic approach towards ALD.