Objective: To explore the clinical value of von Willebrand Factor (vWF) and VITRO score (vWF:Ag/platelet count) in assessing disease progression in patients with HBV infection. Methods: Randomly collect relevant clinical data of 308 patients with HBV infection (including 154 cases of chronic hepatitis B, 66 cases of hepatitis B cirrhosis in compensatory period, 88 cases of hepatitis B cirrhosis in decompensated period) from December 1, 2018 to January 5, 2021 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. The vWF values are measured by a uniform optical method, and all data are included using a uniform standard. Analyze the difference and significance of plasma vWF level and VITRO score in chronic hepatitis B, hepatitis B cirrhosis in the compensatory phase and decompensated phase. Results: The plasma vWF level and VITRO score of the chronic hepatitis B group were (139.47±76.44) and (0.86±0.8), respectively, and the hepatitis B cirrhosis compensated group was (164.95±67.12 and 1.44±1.14), respectively. Hepatitis cirrhosis decompensated group were (317.48±103.32 and 6.81±4.98), respectively; plasma vWF level and VITRO score increased with the progression of HBV infection, and the difference was statistically significant (F=133.669,P=0.000F=137.598,P=0.000).The plasma vWF level and VITRO score in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis were (185.65±85.07 and 2.3±2.37) in the Child-Pugh A group, (304.74±105.81 and 6.37±5.19) in the B grade group, and (369.48±73.238.28±5.38) in the C grade group; plasma vWF level and VITRO score in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis increased with the increase of Child-Pugh grade, and the difference was statistically significant (F=60.236, P=0.000F=32.854, P=0.000). The area under the curve (AUC) of plasma vWF level and VITRO score for diagnosing the decompensated stage of hepatitis B cirrhosis were 0.897 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.855-0.940, P＜0.01], 0.949 [95% CI: 0.916-0.982, P＜0.01). When the vWF level and VITRO score were taken as cut-off values of 238.5% and 1.65, respectively, the sensitivity of diagnosing the decompensated stage of hepatitis B cirrhosis was 79.5% and 94.3%, the specificity was 92.3% and 87.7%, and the positive predictive value was 80.5% and 94.3%, the negative predictive value was 91.9% and 97.5%, and the diagnostic accuracy was 88.6% and 89.3%. Among the patients with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis, the level of vWF in the group with gastrointestinal bleeding (367.24±68.29)% was significantly higher than that in the group without gastrointestinal bleeding (286.15±109.69)%, and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.001) The VITRO score of the group with gastrointestinal bleeding (9.12±5.4) was significantly higher than that of the group without gastrointestinal bleeding (5.36±4.13), and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.01). The vWF level in the spontaneous peritonitis group was (341.73±87.92)% higher than that in the non-spontaneous peritonitis group (296.32±111.74)%, and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05). There was no statistical difference in VITRO score between the two groups. significance. Conclusion: Plasma vWF level and VITRO score can evaluate the progression of liver disease and the degree of decompensation of liver cirrhosis in patients with HBV infection, and have a predictive effect on various complications after decompensation of liver cirrhosis, and have certain guiding significance for early intervention measures.
Disease Progression ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/etiology* ; Hepatitis B/complications* ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/diagnosis* ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/virology* ; Peritonitis/complications* ; von Willebrand Factor/analysis*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the diagnostic value of the serum metabolites identified by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: A total of 126 patients admitted to Tianjin Third Central Hospital were enrolled, including 27 patients with HBV-related hepatitis with negative viral DNA (DNA-N), 24 with HBV-related hepatitis with positive viral DNA, 24 with HBV-related liver cirrhosis, 27 with HBV-related HCC undergoing surgeries or radiofrequency ablation, and 24 with HBV-related HCC receiving interventional therapy, with 25 healthy volunteers as the normal control group. Serum samples were collected from all the subjects for HPLC/MS analysis, and the data were pretreated to establish an orthogonal partial least- squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) model. The differential serum metabolites were preliminarily screened by comparisons between the HBV groups and the control group, and the characteristic metabolites were identified according to the results of non-parametric test. The potential clinical values of these characteristic metabolites were evaluated using receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) analysis. RESULTS: A total of 25 characteristic metabolites were identified in the HBV- infected patients, including 9 lysophosphatidylcholines, 2 fatty acids, 17α-estradiol, sphinganine, 5-methylcytidine, vitamin K2, lysophosphatidic acid, glycocholic acid and 8 metabolites with few reports. The patients with HBV- related HCC showed 22 differential serum metabolites compared with the control group, 4 differential metabolites compared with patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis; 10 differential metabolites were identified in patients with HBV-related HCC receiving interventional therapy compared with those receiving surgical resection or radiofrequency ablation. From the normal control group to HBV-related HCC treated by interventional therapy, many metabolites underwent variations following a similar pattern. CONCLUSIONS We identified 25 characteristic metabolites in patients with HBV-related HCC, and these metabolites may have potential clinical values in the diagnosis of HBV-related HCC. The continuous change of some of these metabolites may indicate the possibility of tumorigenesis, and some may also have indications for the choice of surgical approach.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; diagnosis ; virology ; Case-Control Studies ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; virology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; virology ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; virology ; Mass Spectrometry ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics ; ROC Curve

Objective: To explore the SNP effects of patatin-like phospholipase domain which containing 3 (PNPLA3), transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 (TM6SF2) gene, environmental effects of smoking, alcohol drinking and interaction between gene-gene, gene-environment and drinking-smoking on hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC). Methods: We collected anticoagulant peripheral blood from patients of HBV-HCC, chronic hepatitis B (CHB), liver cirrhosis (LC) and from healthy controls to detect the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3 (PNPLA3) gene loci rs738409 and transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 (TM6SF2) gene loci rs58542926, using the flight mass spectrometry method. The optimal assignment value of gene polymorphisms was defined by using the online SNP stats. Hardy-Weinberg (H-W) balance was tested for SNP. Effects of the genetic and environmental factors to HBV-HCC were analyzed by using the multiple classification logistic regression method. The gene-gene, gene-smoking and alcohol drinking interaction effects were investigated by Fork-Life analysis and binary logistic regression methods. Results: The frequency distribution of CHB group rs738409 loci seemed not in conformity with the H-W balance (χ(2)=11.980, P<0.005). Two loci frequency distributions in the other groups were all in accordandce with the H-W balance. After adjusting for influences on age and sex and comparing to the healthy group, the rs58542926 mutation appeared as OR=1.659, 95%CI: 1.026-2.684, P=0.039, in the HBV-HCC group. When comparing to CHB group, the HBV-HCC group presented that drinking as OR=1.680, 95%CI: 1.121-2.519, P=0.012. When comparing to the LC group, the ORs of drinking and smoking were 1.539 (1.071-2.213) and 1.453 (1.005-2.099) respectively, in the HBV-HCC group. When comparing to the CHB+LC group, interactions between the HBV-HCC group were found rs738409 and rs58542926 on additive model OR=1.548 (U=1.885, P=0.029) and OR=1.658 (P=0.024) on logistic regression model while drinking was rs738409 on interaction additive model with OR=1.811(U=1.965, P=0.024). As for drinking and mutation of rs738409, the multiplication model of logistic regression showed no statistically significant differences. Interaction between smoking and drinking appeared as OR=1.756 (P<0.001) in the logistics regression multiplication model. Conclusions: Factors as mutation of TM6SF2, smoking and drinking all appeared as risk factors for HBV-HCC. Mutations of both PNPLA3 and TM6SF2, together with smoking and drinking all served as risk factors for HBV-HCC. However, the mutation of single PNPLA3 appeared as a protective factor on HBV-HCC.
Alcohol Drinking/adverse effects* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/virology* ; Case-Control Studies ; Epistasis, Genetic ; Gene-Environment Interaction ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Humans ; Lipase/genetics* ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/complications* ; Liver Neoplasms/virology* ; Membrane Proteins/genetics* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Smoking/adverse effects*

BACKGROUNDThe 13C urea breath test (13C-UBT) is the gold standard for detecting Helicobacter pylori infection. H. pylori pathogenesis in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and related diseases remains obscure. We used 13C-UBT to detect H. pylori infection in patients with chronic HBV infection, HBV-related cirrhosis, HBV-related hepatic carcinoma, and other chronic hepatic diseases.

METHODSA total of 131 patients with chronic hepatitis B (HB), 179 with HBV-related cirrhosis, 103 with HBV-related hepatic carcinoma, 45 with HBV-negative hepatic carcinoma, and 150 controls were tested for H. pylori infection using 13C-UBT. We compared H. pylori infection rate, liver function, complications of chronic hepatic disease, serum HBV-DNA, serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) incidence among groups.

RESULTSHBV-related cirrhosis was associated with the highest H. pylori infection rate (79.3%). H. pylori infection rate in chronic HB was significantly higher than in the HBV-negative hepatic carcinoma and control groups (P < 0.001). H. pylori infection rate in patients with HBV-DNA ≥10 3 copies/ml was significantly higher than in those with HBV-DNA <103 copies/ml (76.8% vs. 52.4%, P < 0.001). Prothrombin time (21.3 ± 3.5 s vs. 18.8 ± 4.3 s), total bilirubin (47.3±12.3 μmol/L vs. 26.6 ±7.9 μmol/L), aspartate aminotransferase (184.5 ± 37.6 U/L vs. 98.4 ± 23.5 U/L), blood ammonia (93.4 ± 43.6 μmol/L vs. 35.5 ± 11.7 μmol/L), and AFP (203.4 ± 62.6 μg/L vs. 113.2 ± 45.8 μg/L) in the 13C-UBT-positive group were significantly higher than in the 13C-UBT-negative group (P < 0.01). The incidence rates of esophageal fundus variceal bleeding (25.4% vs. 16.0%), ascites (28.9% vs. 17.8%), and hepatic encephalopathy (24.8% vs. 13.4%) in the 13C-UBT-positive group were significantly higher than in the 13C-UBT-negative group (P < 0.01). The percentages of patients with liver function in Child-Pugh Grade C (29.6% vs. 8.1%) and PHG (43.0% vs. 24.3%) in the 13C-UBT-positive group were significantly higher than in the 13C-UBT-negative group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIt is possible that H. pylori infection could increase liver damage caused by HBV. H. pylori eradication should be performed in patients with complicating H. pylori infection to delay hepatic disease progression.

Adult ; Breath Tests ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections ; complications ; Helicobacter pylori ; pathogenicity ; Hepatitis B virus ; pathogenicity ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; etiology ; virology ; Liver Diseases ; etiology ; virology ; Liver Neoplasms ; etiology ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies

Recent studies suggest that liver cirrhosis is reversible after administering oral nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy to patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, few studies have addressed whether esophageal varices can regress after such therapy. We report a case of complete regression of esophageal varices during entecavir therapy in patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis, suggesting that complications of liver cirrhosis such as esophageal varices can regress after the long-term suppression of HBV replication.
Abdomen/diagnostic imaging ; Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral/blood ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices/complications/prevention & control ; Guanine/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B virus/genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/complications/*drug therapy/virology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/*diagnosis/etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo explore clinical efficacy of Yiguanjian Decoction (YD) combined Adefovir Dipivoxil Tablet (ADT) in treating HBeAg negative chronic viral hepatitis B (CVHB) active compensated liver cirrhosis (LC) patients.

METHODSTotally 68 HBeAg negative CVHB active compensated LC patients initially treated were assigned to the treatment group and the control group using random digit table, 34 in each group. Patients in the control group took ADT alone, 10 mg each time, once per day. Those in the treatment group additionally took YD, one dose per day. The therapeutic course for all was 48 weeks. Levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBil) were detected once in every two weeks. Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA and four items of serum liver fibrosis [procollagen type I (PCN), hyaluronidase (HA), procollagen III peptide (PCIII), laminin (LN)] were detected once per every 4 weeks. Abdominal ultrasound B was performed before and after treatment. The inner diameter of the portal vein and the size of spleen were recorded. The fibrosis degree of liver was evaluated using Fibroscan. Efficacy of Chinese medicine (CM) was evaluated between the two groups before and after treatment using CM syndrome integrals. Efficacy of Western medicine (WM) was also evaluated between the two groups using Child-Pugh grading. Results Compared with before treatment in the same group, ALT and AST levels restored to normal levels, HBV-DNA turned negative (HBV-DNA < or = 1 x 10(2)) in the two groups after 48-week treatment. Besides, levels of TBil, ALB, PCIV, HA, PCIII, and LN obviously decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Results of ultrasound B showed the inner diameter of the portal vein and the size of spleen decreased. Fibroscan results showed that the elasticity value of the liver obviously decreased (P < 0.05). Besides, post-treatment levels of PCIV, HA, PCEJ, and LN, and the elasticity value of the liver decreased more obviously in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in post-treatment levels of ALT, AST, TBil, ALB, inner diameter of the portal vein, or the size of spleen between the two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with before treatment in the same group, scores of Chinese medical syndrome and Child-Pugh scores decreased in the two groups after treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Besides, scores of Chinese medical syndrome decreased more obviously in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The effective rate was 8824% (30/34) in the treatment group, higher than that of the control group [67.65% (23/34)] with statistical difference (P <0.05). Conclusion Combined treatment of YD and ADT could significantly improve symptoms of CM and fibrosis degree of liver of HBeAg negative CVHB active compensated LC patients.

Adenine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Bilirubin ; blood ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; virology ; Organophosphonates ; therapeutic use ; Tablets

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The treatment strategy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been changing rapidly since the introduction of direct-acting antivirals such as daclatasvir (DCV) and asunaprevir (ASV). We evaluated the efficacy and safety of DCV and ASV for HCV in real-life practice. METHODS: Patients were treated with 60 mg of DCV once daily plus 200 mg of ASV twice daily for 24 weeks, and followed for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was a sustained virological response at 12 weeks after treatment (SVR12) and safety. RESULTS: This retrospective study included eight patients with chronic HCV genotype 1b infection. All of the enrolled patients were diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, and their mean age was 65.75 years. One patient was a nonresponder and two patients relapsed with previous pegylated interferon (PegIFN) and ribavirin (RBV) treatment. None of the patient showed NS5A mutation. An SVR12 was achieved in 88% of cases by the DCV and ASV combination therapy. The serum transaminase level and the aspartate-aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio were improved after the treatment. DCV and ASV were well tolerated in most of the patients, with treatment discontinuation due to adverse events (elevated liver enzyme and decompensation) occurring in two patients. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, combination of DCV and ASV treatment achieved a high sustained virological response with few adverse events even in those with cirrhosis, advanced age, and nonresponse/relapse to previous interferon-based therapy. Close monitoring of safety issues may be necessary when treating chronic HCV patients receiving DCV and ASV, especially in older patient and those with cirrhosis.
Aged ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/complications/*drug therapy/virology ; Humans ; Imidazoles/*therapeutic use ; Isoquinolines/*therapeutic use ; Liver/diagnostic imaging ; Liver Cirrhosis/complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Viral/blood ; Retrospective Studies ; Sulfonamides/*therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aimed to clarify the effect of obesity on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients receiving antiviral treatment. METHODS: This study applied a retrospective analysis to a historical cohort in Bundang Jesaeng Hospital. In total, 102 CHB patients were treated with entecavir as an initial treatment for CHB and checked for obesity using a body composition analyzer. Hepatic steatosis was measured semiquantitatively using Hamaguchi’s scoring system in ultrasonography. Risk factors for the development of HCC were analyzed, including obesity-related factors (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference [WC], waist-to-hip ratio [WHR], visceral fat area [VFA], and hepatic steatosis). RESULTS: The median follow-up duration of the patients was 45.2 months (interquartile range: 36.0-58.3 months). The cumulative incidence rates of HCC at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years were 0%, 5.3%, and 9.0%, respectively. Univariable analysis revealed that the risk factors for HCC development were a platelet count of <120,000 /mm² (hazard ratio [HR]=5.21, P=0.031), HBeAg negativity (HR=5.61, P=0.039), and liver cirrhosis (HR=10.26, P=0.031). Multivariable analysis showed that the significant risk factor for HCC development was liver cirrhosis (HR=9.07, P=0.042). However, none of the obesity-related risk factors were significantly associated with HCC: BMI ≥25 kg/m² (HR=0.90, P=0.894), WC ≥90 cm (HR=1.10, P=0.912), WHR ≥0.9 (HR=1.94, P=0.386), VFA ≥100 cm² (HR=1.69, P=0.495), and hepatic steatosis (HR=0.57, P=0.602). CONCLUSION: HCC development is associated with liver cirrhosis but not obesity-related factors in CHB patients receiving entecavir.
Adult ; Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use ; Body Mass Index ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/epidemiology/*etiology ; Cohort Studies ; DNA, Viral/blood ; Female ; Guanine/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B virus/genetics/isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/complications/*drug therapy/virology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver Cirrhosis/complications ; Liver Neoplasms/epidemiology/*etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity/*complications ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Viral Load

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy and safety of antiviral treatment in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and decompensated cirrhosis and determine the effects of virological response on long-term prognosis.

METHODSSixty-six consecutive,interferon (IFN)-na(i)ve patients with HCV infection and decompensated cirrhosis were enrolled in this prospective study. All patients were given a 48-to 72-week course of IFN plus ribavirin (RBV) combined therapy,with a low accelerating dosage regimen using either:pegylated (PEG)-IFNa-2b at 1.0-1.5 mug/kg/week,PEG-IFNa-2a at 90-180 mug,or standard IFN-a-2b at 3MU,every other day.RBV was given at 800 to 1000 mg/day. All patients were routinely monitored for adverse drug reactions and virological response.Effects of treatments on patient survival were assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTSAt the end of treatment,74.2% of patients were HCV RNA-negative,with 45.5% having achieved sustained virological response and 28.8% having relapsed;the remaining 25.7% of patients showed non-virological response (NVR). Among the patients with HCV genotype 1, 65.9% achieved end-of-treatment virological response (ETVR) and 34.1% achieved SVR;among the patients with HCV genotype 2,90.9% achieved ETVR and 68.2% achieved SVR. The positive and negative predictive values of early virological response (EVR) for ETVR were 95.7% and 75.0% respectively, and for SVR were 65.2% and 100% respectively. Compared with baseline,patients who achieved ETVR had better liver function,as evidenced by changes in levels of total bilirubin,alanine aminotransferase and albumin,as well as prothrombin activity and Child-Pugh score (t =4.564,11.486,2.303,2.699,3.694 respectively, all P less than 0.05).Compared with the NVR patients, the ETVR patients had lower risk of hepatic decompensation and hepatocellular carcinoma, and had improved survival (x2=18.756,6.992,7.580, respectively, all P less than 0.05).Twelve (18.2%) patients experienced serious adverse events,with 10 requiring premature treatment withdrawal and 2 dying.

CONCLUSIONAntiviral treatment for patients with HCV infection and decompensated cirrhosis using interferon in a low accelerating dosage regimen in combination with ribavirin is feasible.Patients who achieved ETVR had significantly improved long-term prognosis.

Alanine Transaminase ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Hepatitis C ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; virology ; Liver Neoplasms ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use ; Ribavirin ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to explore the diagnostic value of liver stiffness measurement combined with serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein detection in HBV-related cirrhosis patients complicated with primary liver cancer.

METHODSA total of 156 previously untreated chronic hepatitis B-related cirrhosis patients and 50 healthy subjects were included in this study. The 156 patients were divided into two groups: those with primary liver cancer (67 cases) and without liver cancer (89 cases). The 50 healthy subjects were considered as normal control group. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) was conducted and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) level was assayed in all the 156 patients and 50 normal individuals, and their measurement values were statistically compared and analyzed.

RESULTSThe LSM value was (39.72±29.05) kPa in the liver cancer patients, significantly higher than the (27.81±18.46) kPa in the cirrhosis alone patients and (4.25±0.74) kPa in the healthy controls (P<0.01 for both). Serum hs-CRP levels in the liver cancer patients was 5.81mg/L, significantly higher than 1.78 mg/L in the cirrhosis alone patients and 0.38mg/L in healthy controls, (P<0.01 for both). The higher the grade of LSM values was, the positive rate of CRP was higher in the cirrhosis patients complicated with primary liver cancer. In patients with LSM values ≥27.6 kPa, the serum CRP positive rate was 64.2% in patients with primary liver cancer, significantly higher than the 38.0% in patients with cirrhosis alone (P<0.01). In the 67 HBV-related cirrhosis patients complicated primary liver cancer, the LSM value and serum hs-CRP level in AFP-positive patients were (48.95±28.59) kPa and 4.91 mg/L, respectively, higher than those in the AFP-negative patients (28.64±26.83) kPa and 4.16 mg/L, but with a non-significant difference (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONLiver stiffness measurement combined with serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein detection may have potential diagnostic implications as a marker of primary liver cancer occurrence in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis.

Biomarkers ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Fibrosis ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; etiology ; metabolism ; virology ; Liver Neoplasms