In acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure, FABP1 IDs mortality

(HealthDay)—Serum liver-type fatty acid binding protein (FABP1) early (day one) or late (day three to five) levels are associated with mortality in patients with acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver failure (ALF), according to a study published online Nov. 18 in Hepatology.

Constantine J. Karvellas, M.D., from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, and colleagues examined whether FABP1 early or late levels are associated with 21-day mortality in the absence of liver transplant. Serum samples were analyzed from 198 APAP-ALF patients (99 survivors and 99 non-survivors).

The researchers found that serum FABP1 levels were significantly lower for APAP-ALF survivors versus non-survivors early and late (both P < 0.0001). FABP1 >350 ng/mL correlated with elevated risk of death at early and late time points (P = 0.0004 and P < 0.0001, respectively). After adjustment for significant covariates, increased serum FABP1 early and late correlated with significantly increased 21-day mortality (odds ratios, 1.31 [P = 0.027] and 1.50 [P = 0.005], respectively). For early and late multivariable models, areas under the receiver-operating curve (AUROC) were 0.778 and 0.907, respectively. The addition of FABP1 significantly improved the AUROC of the King's College Criteria and Acute Liver Failure Study Group prognostic index.

"In patients with APAP-ALF, FABP1 may have good potential to discriminate survivors from non-survivors and may improve models currently used in clinical practice," the authors write.