The Role of Immune Semaphorins in NAFLD

The degree of steatosis will be estimated using the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), a method for grading steatosis by measuring the degree of ultrasound attenuation by hepatic fat using a process based on simultaneous transient elastography (TE) which measures the degree of fibrosis.

"Anthropometric measures including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist hip ratio (WHR), and waist height ratio (WHtR) will be measured in all patients.~Results of the routine laboratory tests as part of the standard diagnostic procedure will be collected: bilirubin, AST, ALT, GGT, ALP, albumins, WBC, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, hemoglobin, platelet count, fasting glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, HDL and LDL. Non-invasive scores of steatosis/fibrosis will be calculated (APRI, FIB4, NAFLD score). Patients will be screened for the components of metabolic syndrome."

Semaphorin concentration will be measured in patient sera by ELISA.

Semaphorin genes will be sequenced to identify semaphorin gene polymorphisms associated with NAFLD.