Serum YKL-40 Levels and Chitotriosidase Activity in Patients with Beta-Thalassemia Major

Abstract EN

Background.

YKL-40 association with human disease has been the object of many years of investigation.

β-thalassemia patients are affected by hepatic siderosis, which determines a fibrotic process and tissue remodelling.

Chitotriosidase has been found to be increased in thalassemic patients returning to normal in patients submitted to bone marrow transplantation.

YKL-40 is associated with macrophage activation in liver and in other tissues.

The aim of the study was to analyse the level of serum YKL-40 and plasma chitotriosidase activity of patients with beta-thalassemia to assess whether their expression correlates with liver disease and degree of liver siderosis.

Methods.

Expression of YKL-40 and chitotriosidase as a marker of inflammation in 69 thalassemic patients were evaluated.

We sought to investigate whether these two chitinases could be considered as a significant biomarker to evaluate therapy effectiveness.

Results.

Surprisingly we found normal value of YKL-40.

We, also, analysed chitotriosidase activity in the same patients that was slightly increased as a consequence of macrophage activation.

Conclusions.

These data would suggest a good treatment for these patients.