Hyaluronic acid in the evaluation of liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C on haemodialysis.
BACKGROUND
This study evaluated the role of HA as a marker of liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C on haemodialysis.


METHODS
This is a cross-sectional study in which 52 patients were divided into two groups: Group 1: patients with hepatitis C and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing haemodialysis (n = 23); and Group 2: patients with hepatitis C without ESRD (n = 29). Plasma levels of HA were associated with histological data of the samples obtained by liver biopsy and classified by METAVIR group scoring system.


RESULTS
Higher plasma levels were significantly correlated to significant liver fibrosis (METAVIR > F2). In Group 1, the HA cutoff to discriminate significant fibrosis was 984.8 ng/mL, with accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of 80.8%, 83.0%, and 70.0%, respectively. In Group 2, the HA cutoff was 222.3 ng/mL, with accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of 74.5%, 70.0%, and 94.0%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
HA was an accurate noninvasive marker in predicting significant fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C on haemodialysis.
Department of Internal Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Renata Eliane de
RE
Avila
Ricardo Andrade
RA
Carmo
Kátia de Paula
Kde P
Farah
Antônio Lúcio
AL
Teixeira
Lucas Viana
LV
Coimbra
Carlos MaurÃcio de Figueiredo
CM
Antunes
José Roberto
JR
Lambertucci
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid