Investigation Roles of Erythropoietin, Testosterone, and Thyroid Hormones in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease

Abstract

Chronic liver disease (CLD) is characterized as a steady decline in liver functions that lasts longer than six months, including the generation of clotting factors and other proteins, detoxification of toxic metabolic products, and bile excretion. CLD is a continual process of inflammation, damage, and regeneration of the liver parenchyma that results in fibrosis and cirrhosis. The study aims to determine the predictive role of erythropoietin, testosterone, and thyroid function markers in the pathogenesis of liver dysfunction in Iraqi patients. The current research investigation was conducted out in Baquba Teaching Hospital / Diyala governorate from November 2022 to January 2023. 50 blood samples were taken from patients who came to the Baquba Teaching Hospital and those with chronic liver disease for inspection and diagnosis by the consultant doctor in the advisory units/Baquba Teaching Hospital. 30 healthy people's blood samples were taken as a control group. The serum levels of erythropoietin, testosterone, TSH, FT3, and FT4 indicators in the samples were determined using the Roche Cobas e411. The current study's findings revealed that 61-70 and >70 years scored highest age groups (28% and 26%) than ≤40 years that scored least age groups (6%) with significant differences (p<0.05). The levels of erythropoietin and TSH were higher in patients than healthy. In contrast, the levels of testosterone, FT3, and FT4 were low in patients than healthy with significant differences (p<0.05). According to Pearson correlations, erythropoietin is a substantial positive association with FT4 (r= 0.293*    Sig.=0.039). Depending on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the present study showed the Erythropoietin, Testosterone, TSH, FT3, and FT4 markers scored the highest sensitivity (86%, 90%, 94%, 96%, and 100%) and specificity (90%, 90%, 94%, 100%, and 72%) respectively, in screening patients with Chronic liver disease (CLD). We came to the conclusion that illness severity increased with age. Erythropoietin, testosterone, and thyroid function are good prognostic markers in screening chronic liver disease that is associated with gonadal and thyroid disorders.