Furthermore, both serum CK-18 fragment level and amount of resistin positive cells in the liver were independent factors either to predict NASH presence (CK-18: OR 6.4; 95% CI 1.1-7.5; P = 0.002 and resistin: OR 4.3; 95% CI 1.9-14.3; P = 0.004) or moderate-to-severe liver fibrosis (CK-18: OR 5.3; 95% CI 1.6-9.2; P = 0.003 and resistin: OR 3.6; 95% CI 1.1-12.5; P = 0.012). This evidence concerns the gene KRT18 and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.