Value of FibroScan in assessment of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B patients with hepatocyte steatosis

Objective To evaluate the value of FibroScan in assessing liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B ( CHB) patients with hepatocyte steatosis. Methods Four hundred and eighteen CHB patients who had undergone liver biopsy in Shanghai Ruijin Hospital from January 2009 to December 2011 were enrolled in this study. These patients were divided into hepatocyte steatosis group ( n = 211) and non- hepatocyte steatosis group ( n =207) . FibroScan was performed in both groups on the same day. Comparisons of liver stiffness measurement ( LSM) and liver fibrosis stage determined by FibroScan and Ishak scoring system were made. Comparisons between groups were made by independent- samples t test, Kruskal- Wallis H test, and Nemenyi test. Comparison of categorical data was made by chi- square analysis. Bivariate correlation analysis was performed using the Spearman Rank Correlation coefficient. The influential factors for LSM were determined by stepwise regression analysis. Results There was no significant difference in LSM between the patients of the same liver fibrosis stage in the two groups ( P > 0. 05) , and LSM had a significant positive correlation with liver fibrosis stage in the non- hepatocyte steatosis group ( rs= 0. 650 35, P < 0. 000 1) and hepatocyte steatosis group ( rs= 0. 637 93, P < 0. 000 1) . The stepwise regression analysis showed that aspartate aminotransferase ( AST) , alanine aminotransferase, albumin ( Alb) , total bilirubin, and platelet ( PLT) were significant influential factors for LSM in the non- hepatocyte steatosis group and that PLT, AST, age, Alb, and body mass index were significant influential factors for LSM in the hepatocyte steatosis group. Conclusion FibroScan can be used as a useful tool for assessing liver fibrosis in CHB patients with hepatocyte steatosis.