Significance of Biomarkers of Liver Fibrosis and Cirrhosis Progression in Chronic Viral Hepatitis C in Patients with HIV Infection

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a study of liver density and an assessment of liver fibrosis markers in 137 patients with HIV infection associated with chronic viral hepatitis C. Activation of the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6), increased regeneration in hepatocytes, which predetermine the outcome of chronic viral hepatitis C into cirrhosis, were revealed. Significant pathogenetic factors that mark liver density were APRI index, albumin, platelets and IL-6. Normal liver density was established at APRI ≤0.50. 1 and 2-degree of fibrosis - F1-2 = with APRI > 0.50 and ≤0.91, 3-degree of liver fibrosis - F3 - with > 0.91 and ≤1.02, liver cirrhosis of HCV etiology with APRI > 1.02. The IL-6 index showed a high correlation with the degrees of liver fibrosis. IL-6 allowed to exclude liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C at ≤3.6 pg/ml. A rapid rate of progression of liver fibrosis was detected at APRI>0.74 and AFP>3.25 IU/ml. A good predictive value for the diagnosis of the transition of chronic hepatitis C to liver cirrhosis was shown by IL-6 at > 7.12 pg/ml (sensitivity 72.5% and specificity 92.2%).