Association betweem plasma fibrinogen-like protein 1 and liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B patients

Abstract

Objective \nTo evaluate the plasma fibrinogen-like protein 1 (FLP1) level in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with different fibrotic stages, and explore the value of FLP1 in the diagnosis of liver fibrosis. \n \n \nMethods \nCHB patients who underwent liver biopsy (14 subjects each in mild liver fibrosis, moderate fibrosis and severe fibrosis) in Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital from June 2016 to January 2017, along with 14 healthy controls were collected. The clinical features, liver functions, blood routine and plasma FLP1 level were compared. The independent predictive factors of significant fibrosis (moderate fibrosis + severe fibrosis, S≥2) in CHB patients were analyzed. \n \n \nResults \nThe difference of plasma FLP1 levels in healthy people and CHB patients with different fibrotic stages had statistical significance (F=7.002, P<0.01) . The FLP1 levels in mild fibrosis[ (73.2±17.8) ng/mL], moderate fibrosis [ (60.5±19.4) ng/mL] and severe fibrosis [ (63.1±17.2) ng/mL] patients were significantly lower than that in healthy controls (t=2.267, P<0.05; t=3.513, P<0.01; t=3.411, P<0.01) . Older (OR=1.303, 95%CI: 1.113-1.526) , higher alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (OR=1.042, 95%CI: 1.012-1.074) and lower FLP1 level (OR=0.948, 95%CI: 0.905-0.995) were proved to be independent predictive factors of significant fibrosis in CHB patients. \n \n \nConclusions \nPlasma FLP1 level is lower in liver fibrosis than in healthy people. Age, ALT and FLP1 are independent predictive factors of significant fibrosis. \n \n \nKey words: \nHepatitis B, Chronic;\xa0Fibrinogen-like protein 1;\xa0Prediction;\xa0Age