DIHYDROXYACETONE phosphate (DHAP) has emerged as a novel predictor of hepatic fibrosis in Latino adolescents with obesity. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the leading cause of pediatric liver disease, with a growing prevalence among Latino adolescents. This condition can progress to liver fibrosis, which is typically diagnosed using invasive procedures such as biopsy or imaging. However, there is a need for more accessible, non-invasive, and cost-effective methods for detecting fibrosis. In the study, we aimed to identify potential biomarkers for fibrosis through plasma metabolomics and lipidomics in Latino adolescents with obesity.
Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) was employed to measure liver stiffness (LS) in 93 Latino adolescents with obesity. Plasma metabolites and lipids were extracted and analysed using Compound Discoverer software. Associations between these metabolites and fibrosis (defined as LS>2.73 kPa) were assessed using linear regression models, adjusting for covariates. False discovery rate (FDR) adjusted Pearson’s correlations were performed to account for multiple comparisons. In the study, only one metabolite, dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP), was found to be significantly associated with fibrosis (p<0.05) after FDR adjustment. Receiver operator curve (ROC) analysis revealed that DHAP exhibited an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.79, similar to alanine transaminase (ALT), which also had an AUC of 0.79. When combined, ALT and DHAP showed an AUC of 0.89, indicating improved diagnostic accuracy.
These findings suggest that DHAP, along with ALT, could serve as a valuable non-invasive biomarker for liver fibrosis in this specific population of Latino adolescents with obesity. However, further validation is necessary in larger cohorts to confirm these results and fully establish the clinical utility of DHAP as a reliable biomarker for fibrosis.
Katie Wright, EMJ
Reference
Schenker RB et al. Dihydroxyacetone phosphate is a novel predictor of hepatic fibrosis in Latino adolescents with obesity. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2024;DOI:10.1002/jpn3.12420.
