Purpose: To investigate the diagnostic value of serum APOC2 in patients with diabetes mellitus combined with pyogenic liver abscess.
Methods: From April 2023 to July 2023, 77 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients were included in The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University which divided into two groups: diabetes mellitus (n=55) and diabetes mellitus combined with pyogenic liver abscess (n=22). Additionally, 27 healthy individuals served as the control group. Serum APOC2 levels were detected and compared among the groups. ROC curve and logistic regression analysis were performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum APOC2.
Results: Serum APOC2 levels were significantly higher in diabetes mellitus patients compared to the healthy control group (4.681 vs 3.490 mg/dL, P=0.008). In diabetes mellitus combined with pyogenic liver abscess patients, APOC2 levels were significantly reduced (4.681 vs 2.470 mg/dL, P<0.001), but increased post-treatment (2.470 vs 4.323 mg/dL, P<0.001). ROC curve analysis showed high diagnostic accuracy for serum APOC2 in diabetes mellitus combined with pyogenic liver abscess (AUC=0.945, 95% CI: 0.870-0.999). Logistic regression analysis revealed that reduced serum APOC2 levels are a risk factor for diabetes mellitus combined with pyogenic liver abscess (OR=0.02, 95% CI=0.01~0.16, P=0.012). The diabetes mellitus combined with pyogenic liver abscess patients with lower APOC2 levels had higher ALT (101 U/L vs 31 U/L, P=0.038) and AST levels (55 U/L vs 28 U/L, P=0.007), suggesting that reduced serum APOC2 levels are associated with liver function damage.
Conclusion: Serum APOC2 levels were significantly decreased in patients with diabetes mellitus combined with pyogenic liver abscess, serving as a potential marker for predicting the occurrence of this condition. Lower levels of APOC2 are strongly linked to liver function impairment.