Liver Fibrosis Biomarkers Predict Mortality in Fontan Circulation
A retrospective study of 334 adults with Fontan circulation, a palliative procedure for congenital heart disease, has found that non-invasive biomarkers of liver fibrosis are strong predictors of mortality or transplant. The research, published in *Heart*, analyzed scores including FibroSURE, APRI, FIB-4, and MELD-XI. Results showed that elevated levels of these biomarkers were significantly associated with an increased hazard of death or transplant over a median follow-up of 5.6 years. For instance, a FibroSURE score above 0.74 was linked to a more than threefold increased hazard, highlighting the critical prognostic value of monitoring liver health in this high-risk patient population.
Why it might matter to you: This study underscores the systemic impact of chronic circulatory stress on organ function, a concept central to understanding progressive conditions like chronic kidney disease (CKD). For nephrologists, it reinforces the importance of multi-organ risk stratification, as non-invasive biomarkers proven in cardiology may have analogous applications in tracking renal fibrosis and predicting outcomes in CKD or end-stage renal disease. It suggests that integrating liver-focused prognostic tools could enhance the comprehensive management of patients with complex, multi-system conditions often seen in nephrology practice.
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