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Normal Controlled Attenuation Parameter Values: A Prospective Study of Healthy Subjects Undergoing Health Checkups and Liver Donors in Korea

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Abstract

Background/Aims

The controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) is a noninvasive method of assessing hepatic steatosis. We defined the normal range of CAP values in healthy subjects and evaluated the associated factors.

Methods

CAP values were measured in a cohort of healthy subjects who were screened as living liver transplantation donors and those who underwent health checkups. Subjects with current or a history of chronic liver disease, abnormalities on liver-related laboratory tests, or fatty liver on ultrasonography or biopsy were excluded.

Results

The mean age of the 264 recruited subjects (131 males and 133 females; 76 potential liver donors and 188 subjects who had undergone health checkups) was 49.2 years. The mean CAP value was 224.8 ± 38.7 dB/m (range 100.0–308.0 dB/m), and the range of normal CAP values (5th–95th percentiles) was 156.0–287.8 dB/m. The mean CAP value was significantly higher in the health checkup than in the potential liver donor group (227.5 ± 42.0 vs. 218.2 ± 28.3 dB/m, P = 0.040). CAP values did not differ significantly according to gender or age in either group (all P > 0.05). In a multivariate linear regression analysis, body mass index (β = 0.271, P = 0.024) and triglyceride levels (β = 0.348, P = 0.008) were found to be independently associated with CAP values.

Conclusion

We determined the normal range of CAP values and found that body mass index and triglyceride levels were associated with the CAP values of healthy subjects.

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Abbreviations

CAP:

Controlled attenuation parameter

NAFLD:

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

NASH:

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

LSV:

Liver stiffness value

CLD:

Chronic liver disease

BMI:

Body mass index

HBsAg:

Hepatitis B virus surface antigen

Anti-HCV:

Hepatitis C virus antibody

ALT:

Alanine aminotransferase

AST:

Aspartate aminotransferase

GGT:

Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase

ALP:

Alkaline phosphatase

HDL:

High-density lipoprotein

LDL:

Low-density lipoprotein

IQR:

Inter-quartile range

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 250 Seongsanno, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Korea

    Young Eun Chon, Kyu Sik Jung, Kwang Joon Kim, Beom Kyung Kim, Jun Yong Park, Do Young Kim, Sang Hoon Ahn, Kwang-Hyub Han & Seung Up Kim

  2. Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Young Eun Chon, Kyu Sik Jung, Beom Kyung Kim, Jun Yong Park, Do Young Kim, Sang Hoon Ahn, Kwang-Hyub Han & Seung Up Kim

  3. Institute of Endocrinology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Kwang Joon Kim

  4. Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Dong Jin Joo

  5. Liver Cirrhosis Clinical Research Center, Seoul, Korea

    Beom Kyung Kim, Jun Yong Park, Do Young Kim, Sang Hoon Ahn, Kwang-Hyub Han & Seung Up Kim

  6. Brain Korea 21 Project of Medical Science, Seoul, Korea

    Sang Hoon Ahn & Kwang-Hyub Han

Authors
  1. Young Eun Chon
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Correspondence to Seung Up Kim.

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Chon, Y.E., Jung, K.S., Kim, K.J. et al. Normal Controlled Attenuation Parameter Values: A Prospective Study of Healthy Subjects Undergoing Health Checkups and Liver Donors in Korea. Dig Dis Sci 60, 234–242 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-014-3293-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-014-3293-1

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