Can We Accurately Assess Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Patients?

İngilizce (OpenAlex)

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of blood biochemical indicators with imaging techniques and biopsy data in detecting liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).Materials and Methods: One hundred fifty-three CHB patients followed without treatment in the Infectious Diseases Hepatitis Outpatient Clinic between 2021 and 2023 at Ege University Medical Faculty Hospital.The aspartate aminotransferase/ alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) ratio, fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score, aspartate aminotransferase -platelet ratio index (APRI) score, and platelet (PLT) count were all calculated at the same time as the International Normalized Ratio (INR) level and FIB-4 score.Hepatobiliary system ultrasonography (USG) findings, demographic characteristics, hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA levels, ultrasoundbased elastographic imaging results, and liver biopsy results were assessed.With serum fibrosis markers, AST/ALT ratio, FIB-4 score, APRI score, INR level, PLT number and gender, age, HBV-DNA, liver damage levels via biopsy and ultrasound-based elastography and hepatobiliary system USG results and their relationship between each other were investigated.Results: Of the patients, 73 (47.7%) were male.The average age was 47.11±13.47years.Being female, the AST/ALT ratio of more than 1 and being >40 years were found to be statistically significant.The rate of AST/ALT >1 was found to be significantly higher in patients with normal USG findings.The PLT count was found to be higher in the group with HBV-DNA >2000 IU/mL.The FIB-4 score was found to be higher only in males.There was no statistically significant difference between the genders in the APRI score; however, it was found to be higher in patients aged >40 years.Conclusion: To predict the progression to cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma in CHB patients who do not match the treatment criteria per the Turkish CHB treatment reimbursement Cite this article as: Yalçın N, Kaya A, Şanlıdağ İşbilen G, Vahabi MM, Pullukçu H, Yamazhan T. Can We Accurately Assess Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Patients?. Viral Hepatitis Journal 2023;29(2):64-69 guideline, fibrosis risk was assessed using biochemical markers and radiological imaging techniques.However, it was determined that radiological imaging using serum markers is not a reliable way to predict fibrosis in its early stages.