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Chronic hepatitis C virus infection: Relationships between inflammatory marker levels and compensated liver cirrhosis

Xu Li1,2, Le Wang3, Pujun Gao1,2

  • 1Department of Hepatology.

Medicine
|October 3, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Inflammatory markers like platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), aspartate aminotransferase (AST)-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), and AST/alanine aminotransferase ratio (AAR) predict cirrhosis risk in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Higher cholesterol levels also increase fatty liver risk in CHC patients.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection is a significant cause of liver disease globally.
  • Cirrhosis is a severe complication of CHC, and identifying early predictors is crucial for patient management.
  • Fatty liver disease is increasingly recognized as a comorbidity that can influence CHC progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between inflammatory marker levels and the risk of developing compensated liver cirrhosis in Chinese patients with CHC.
  • To identify risk factors for fatty liver disease in patients with CHC infection.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study was conducted using data from 110 Chinese patients with CHC and cirrhosis, matched with 458 CHC patients without cirrhosis.
  • Inflammatory markers including platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), aspartate aminotransferase (AST)-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), and AST/alanine aminotransferase ratio (AAR) were analyzed.
  • Logistic regression was employed to assess the independent predictive values of these markers and cholesterol levels for cirrhosis and fatty liver disease, respectively.

Main Results:

  • Patients with CHC-related cirrhosis exhibited lower PLR values and higher APRI and AAR values compared to controls.
  • Increased 1/PLR, APRI, and AAR values were significantly associated with an increased odds of compensated cirrhosis.
  • Higher triglyceride, cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were observed in patients with both CHC and fatty liver disease.
  • Cholesterol level was identified as a significant risk factor for fatty liver development in CHC patients.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated 1/PLR, APRI, and AAR are valuable indicators for predicting cirrhosis risk in Chinese patients with CHC.
  • Cholesterol levels are a significant risk factor for the development of fatty liver disease in the context of CHC infection.
  • These findings highlight the potential of readily available biochemical markers for risk stratification and early detection of liver complications in CHC patients.

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