Abstract
Background and Objectives: Determining the stage and grade of liver fibrosis (LF) is important to predict prognosis and assessment of the rapeutic response in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Liver biopsy is invasive and has several potential complications. Regular liver biopsy for patients follow-up is not acceptable. Aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between serum hyaluronic acid (HA) level with stage and grade of liver Fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B and C induced viral hepatitis.
Methods and Materials: This two year prospective study (2006-2007) was done on patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and C who had liver biopsy findings. Patients with concomitant artheropathy and any medicication that affects the serum level of hyaluronic acid were excluded. Blood samples were taken from each individual for measured of hyaluronic acid level.
Results: From 69 patients (M/F 48/21, 34±10 years), 29 patients (42%) were infected with HCV and 40 patients (58%) were infected with HBV. Stages of Liver Fibrosis had a direct correlation with Hyaluronic Acid serum level (r=0.25, P=0.042), and had an indirect correlation with platelet count (r=0.37, P=0.0002). Grades of Liver Fibrosis had not meaningful correlation with Hyaluronic Acid and Alanin amino transpherase, levels, (r=-0.01, P=0.9 and r=0.21, P=0.09) respectively. grades of Liver Fibrosis had an indirect correlation with platelet count (r=0.36, P=0.003).
Conclusion: Hyaluronic Acid serum level is a useful marker for determining the stage of LF in patients with chronic viral hepatitis it can be a useful anda noninvasive method for follow-up of these patients.