Predictive value of serum sCD163 and MFG-E8 for acute cholangitis in patients with obstructive jaundice caused by common bile duct stones

Abstract:

Background and Aims Obstructive jaundice (OJ) caused by common bile duct stones (CBDS) is a major risk factor for acute cholangitis (AC). Early identification of high-risk patients is essential for improving prognosis. Soluble CD163 (sCD163) and milk fat globule epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8) are associated with inflammatory diseases, but their predictive value for AC in CBDS-related OJ remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive significance of serum sCD163 and MFG-E8 levels for AC in patients with CBDS-OJ.Methods A total of 142 patients with CBDS-OJ admitted from January 2022 to June 2024 were included as the observation group, and 145 healthy individuals undergoing physical examination served as controls. Serum sCD163 and MFG-E8 levels were measured using ELISA. Based on the occurrence of AC within 24 hours after admission, patients with CBDS-OJ were divided into an AC group (n=48) and a non-AC group (n=94). Clinical variables and serological indicators were compared between groups. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent factors associated with AC. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to assess the predictive performance of sCD163, MFG-E8, and their combination.Results Compared with the control group, patients with CBDS-OJ showed significantly elevated serum sCD163 levels and decreased MFG-E8 levels (both P<0.05). Within the observation group, the AC group had higher AST, ALT and sCD163 levels and lower MFG-E8 levels than the non-AC group (all P<0.05). Logistic regression identified elevated sCD163 as an independent risk factor (OR=3.478, P<0.001) and reduced MFG-E8 as a protective factor (OR=0.526, P=0.020) for AC. ROC analysis showed AUC values of 0.759 for sCD163, 0.787 for MFG-E8, and 0.920 for their combined detection, with the combined model outperforming either marker alone (P<0.001).Conclusion Serum sCD163 elevation and MFG-E8 reduction are closely associated with the development of AC in patients with CBDS-OJ. Combined detection of sCD163 and MFG-E8 provides superior predictive value and may serve as a useful tool for early risk stratification in clinical practice.