Impact of serum glycosylated Wisteria floribunda agglutinin positive Mac-2 binding protein levels on liver functional reserves and mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis

Aim Serum glycosylated Wisteria floribunda agglutinin positive Mac‐2 binding protein (WFA+‐M2BP) levels are a non‐invasive and reliable marker to assess the degree of liver fibrosis. We investigated the use of WFA+‐M2BP levels to predict mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC). Methods This retrospective study consisted of 59 consecutive patients. Liver fibrosis was estimated by hyaluronic acid (HA), 7S fragment of type IV collagen (7S collagen), aspartate aminotransferase‐to‐platelet ratio index (APRI) and FIB‐4 index. The severity of liver disease was evaluated by Child–Pugh classification and the Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to evaluate risk factors for mortality, and the diagnostic accuracy of WFA+‐M2BP levels to predict mortality was examined using receiver–operator curves. Results Serum WFA+‐M2BP levels of Child–Pugh class A, B and C had cut‐off indexes (COI) of 2.90, 6.15 and 9.45, respectively. WFA+‐M2BP levels were positively correlated with HA, 7S collagen, APRI, FIB‐4 index, Child–Pugh class and MELD score. Multivariate analysis identified WFA+‐M2BP levels as an independent risk factor of mortality (hazard ratio = 1.19, 95% confidence interval = 1.02–1.41, P = 0.03), and the optimal cutoff point to predict mortality was 5.0 COI. The survival rate was significantly lower in patients with WFA+‐M2BP levels 5.0 or more COI than in patients with WFA+‐M2BP of less than 5.0 COI (P = 0.002). Conclusion Serum WFA+‐M2BP levels were significantly correlated with both liver function reserves and liver fibrosis, and were independently associated with mortality in patients with LC.