Efficiency of alternative markers to assess liver fibrosis levels in viral hepatitis B patients.

Abstract

Background: Chronic hepatitis B is a global public health problem. Histological staging of liver fibrosis is crucial to identify patients who need antiviral treatment. Correlation between perspective markers and liver fibrosis has been studied by current research. Methods: Samples of blood were collected from 75 persons non-infected and 75 infected cases with HBV were classified according to Metavir system. ELISA technique is used to determine alternative markers levels. RT-PCR assay is used to quantify HBV DNA. Scoring systems are compared to non-invasive markers. Results: Our research has guided us that Hyaluronic acid, COMP and Coll-IV and scoring indexes of fibrosis discriminate fibrosis cases from non-fibrosis group. The studied biomarkers results differentiate early stages from advanced levels of fibrosis. Conclusions: We expect that if these alterative biomarkers are combined with scoring system, they would be beneficial predictors to determine fibrosis levels in liver in order to eliminate needing to liver biopsy.