Evaluation of plasma microRNA-122, high-mobility group box 1 and keratin-18 concentrations to stratify acute gallstone disease: a pilot observational cohort study in an emergency general surgery unit.

miR-122 and keratin-18 plasma concentrations are elevated in patients with gallstones. However, this result is confounded by the association between biomarker concentrations, age and gender. In this pilot study, miR-122 and keratin-18 were not sufficiently discriminatory to be progressed as clinically useful biomarkers in this context.