Abstract A101: Hair cortisol measurement in chronic hepatitis B patients

Abstract

Abstract Objectives: It is known that chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection exerts suppressive effects on the host innate and adaptive immune responses. Although there is information about liver disease progression of CHB patients and the adverse effects of stress on the immune system, few studies focus on the effects of chronic stress in CHB patients. To our best knowledge, this is the first study to measure hair cortisol in CHB patients. To address the prolonged exposure to stress associated with CHB diagnosis, we explored the measure of the stress hormone cortisol (CORT) in the hair as a biomarker of chronic stress in CHB patients. Methods: Eligible CHB patients identified from an existing patient cohort were enrolled in this prospective study. Data collection were done using medical chart reviews, face-to-face interview in Korean or English, and hair and blood samples. Hair samples were cut from the posterior vertex of the scalp, as close to the scalp as possible. Hair CORT in the most proximal 3-cm scalp hair segment was analyzed using luminescence immunoassay. Results: We collected hair samples of 50 CHB patients (age 34-74 years) with duration of HBV diagnosis (1-51 years, 23.8±10). Hair samples weighing 19.6 - 29.9 mg were processed and analyzed for cortisol. Mean cortisol levels were 16.42 pg/mg (27.59 SD) ranging from 2.7 to 168.1 pg/mg. About 16% had below normal HCC (<5.5 pg/mg). The rate of distress measured by Distress Thermometer (DT) (defined by the DT cutoff >=4) was 48%. Distress was positively correlated with hair CORT (r=.395, p<.05) among those with below normal CORT. Conclusion: About one fifth of the patients had very low hair cortisol levels, suggesting long-term suppression of hair cortisol production in the course of HBV diagnosis and antiviral therapy. Low hair cortisol level might indicate a specific pathogenic mechanism with cortisol production. This study suggests further research to determine the longitudinal effects of chronic stress on hair cortisol levels and chronic liver disease progression in CHB patients. Citation Format: Hie-Won Hann, Hushan Yang, Jerrold Meyer, Hee-Soon Juon. Hair cortisol measurement in chronic hepatitis B patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2018 Nov 2-5; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl):Abstract nr A101.