Aim: The present study aims to identify those microRNAs (miRNAs) in patients with
univentricular heart (UVH) disease with and without Fontan palliation that may be
associated with advanced liver fibrosis/cirrhosis.
Materials and Methods: SurePrintTM 8 × 60K Human v21 miRNA arrays were used
to determine the miRNA abundance profiles in the blood of 48 UVH patients with and
without Fontan palliation and 32 matched healthy controls. The abundance levels of
selected miRNAs have been validated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase
chain reaction (RT-qPCR).
Results: According to microarray analysis, 50 miRNAs were found to be significantly
abundant in UVH patients of which miR-29b-3p and miR-29c-3p were significantly
related to the model of end-stage liver disease (MELD)-Albumin and albumin-bilirubin
(ALBI) score representing advanced liver fibrosis/cirrhosis. Relative expression levels
of both miRNAs were significantly higher in patients with a higher collapsibility index
representing venous hepatic congestion, a higher MELD-Albumin or ALBI score and
incomplete or no Fontan palliation. In the logistic regression analysis, a MELD-Albumin
score ≥ 11 or ALBI score > −2.6 were best predicted by total bilirubin (OR 6.630,
P = 0.016), albumin (OR 0.424, P = 0.026), and miR-29c-3p (OR 33.060, P = 0.047).
After adjustment to the status of Fontan palliation, however, no statistical significance
of these parameters was found thus underlining the importance of palliation status on
progression of liver fibrosis/ cirrhosis in UVH patients.
Conclusions: In UVH patients with and without Fontan palliation, miR-29b-3p and
miR-29c-3p seem to be markers of advanced liver fibrosis/cirrhosis and thus may be
used in the risk assessment of these patients