Changes in Prealbumin and Body Mass Index Associated with T Lymphocyte Subsets and Nutritional Status in Chronic Hepatitis B and HBV-Cirrhosis Patients.

Abstract

Background: Patient immune response is one of the main factors influencing hepatitis virus (HBV) eradication or chronicity. Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between the nutritional status and immune function, and to provide the appropriate clinical diagnosis data for treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB) and cirrhosis. Methods: T lymphocyte subsets were tested using flow cytometry in 100 patients (48 with CHB, 52 with cirrhosis) and 26 healthy individuals. Nutritional parameters were analyzed including body mass index (BMI), blood white blood cell count, albumin, prealbumin, and biochemistry parameters in patient and control groups. Results: Moderate and severe malnutrition (53.84%) were observed in HBV-cirrhosis patients. Serum albumin and prealbumin levels were the lowest in the cirrhosis group. There were significantly lower levels of lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD3+CD4+, and CD3+CD8+) in patient groups compared with the control group. There was significantly lower cholesterol, white blood cells, lymphocytes, and platelet levels in the patient group compared with the control group. Interrelation between nutritional and immune parameters showed that serum prealbumin levels were negatively correlated with CD3+, CD3+CD4+, and CD3+CD8+ count in the CHB group, and the immune parameters (CD3+, CD3+CD4+, and CD3+CD8+ count) correlated significantly with BMI in the patients with cirrhosis (r > 0.45). Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that there is a correlation between nutrition deficiency and immune dysfunction in patients with CHB and cirrhosis. It is necessary to assess the nutritional status and immune balance in these patients.