Correlation of cell-free DNA plasma concentration with severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

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

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