Baseline Circulating miR-125b Levels Predict a High FIB-4 Index Score in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients after...

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Molecular Biology
• Virology

Background:

• MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a regulatory role in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
• Liver fibrosis progression is a critical concern in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients undergoing antiviral therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between serum miR-125b levels and liver fibrosis progression in CHB patients after 12-month nucleos(t)ide analog (NA) treatment.
• To identify predictors of liver fibrosis progression using the FIB-4 index.

Main Methods:

• Serum miR-125b levels and laboratory data were collected from 124 CHB patients before and after 12 months of NA therapy.
• The FIB-4 index was calculated post-treatment.
• Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors for a higher post-treatment FIB-4 index.

Main Results:

• Baseline serum miR-125b levels showed an inverse correlation with the post-treatment FIB-4 index (ρ = −0.2130, p = 0.0082).
• Age, baseline platelet count, and ALT levels were identified as independent predictors of a higher post-treatment FIB-4 index.
• Baseline miR-125b levels were not significantly associated with the post-treatment FIB-4 index overall (p = 0.8992).
• In patients receiving entecavir (ETV) monotherapy, miR-125b alternation and age were associated with a higher post-treatment FIB-4 index.

Conclusions:

• Serum miR-125b is not a reliable predictor of liver fibrosis progression in all CHB patients after NA treatment.
• Serum miR-125b may be a potential biomarker for detecting early liver fibrosis in CHB patients specifically treated with entecavir.