Soluble <scp>CD</scp>163, a marker of Kupffer cell activation, is related to portal hypertension in patients with liver cirrhosis

Abstract

Circulating sCD163 originating from activated Kupffer cells is increased in cirrhosis with increasing Child-Pugh score and with increasing HVPG, and it is an independent predictor for HVPG. These findings support a primary role of macrophage activation in portal hypertension, and may indicate a target for biological intervention.