OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between serum miRNA-6086 expression level and anal fistula recurrence.

METHODSClinical data and serum samples of 60 patients with anal fistula and mix hemorrhoid identified by pathology undergoing resection in our department from August 2015 to August 2016 were collected. In addition, serum samples of 20 patients matching with fistula group in age, gender and body weight and receiving only hemorroidectomy were collected as control during the same period. Serum miRNA6086 expression level was detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR method, and the association of serum miRNA6086 expression level with clinicopathologic features was analyzed. Univariate ANOVA test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to analyze the association between serum miRNA6086 expression level and anal fistula recurrence.

RESULTSThe relative expression of serum miRNA6086 in fistula group was 65.85±15.57, which was significantly up-regulated for 4.87 folds of 13.52±7.32 in control group(P<0.05). In fistula group, 24 cases(40%) developed anal fistula recurrence, whose serum miRNA6086 expression was significantly higher compared to 36 cases without recurrence (74.06±12.92 vs. 60.38±14.90, P<0.05). No associations of serum miRNA6086 expression with age, gender, BMI, drug history, acute phase were observed (P>0.05), while association of serum miRNA6086 expression level with the type, number and position of anal fistula was significant (all P<0.05). Univariated analysis indicated that anal fistula type (χ=6.890, P=0.009), anal fistula number (χ=0.554, P<0.001) and serum miRNA6086 expression (χ=11.390, P=0.001) were significantly associated with anal fistula recurrence. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that complex anal fistula (OR=4.75, 95%CI: 1.84 to 12.01, P=0.001) and high expression of serum miRNA6086 (OR=3.22, 95%CI:1.31 to 8.22, P=0.011) were independent risk factors of anal fistula recurrence.

CONCLUSIONUp-regulated expression of serum miRNA6086 is associated to the anal fistula type and may be valuable in predicting the prognosis.