Correlation Between Clinical Indicators and Liver Pathology in Children with Chronic Hepatitis B

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Viral Hepatitis Research

Background:

• Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) poses a significant global health challenge in children.
• Liver inflammation and fibrosis are key concerns impacting disease progression and long-term outcomes in pediatric CHB.
• Accurate assessment of liver pathology is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the predictive value of clinical indicators for liver inflammation and fibrosis severity in pediatric CHB patients.
• To identify key biochemical markers and age as predictors of liver pathology in children with CHB.
• To inform the development of non-invasive diagnostic algorithms for pediatric liver disease.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 1629 pediatric CHB patients (2000-2021).
• Liver biopsies assessed using the Scheuer scoring system for inflammation and fibrosis.
• Restricted cubic spline regression models used to analyze associations between age, ALT, AST, GGT, and liver pathology.

Main Results:

• Older age correlated with increased risk of moderate-to-severe inflammation (OR 2.21) and significant fibrosis (OR 2.22).
• Elevated ALT (≥80 U/L) linked to higher likelihood of moderate-to-severe inflammation (OR 1.82).
• Higher GGT (≥50 U/L) significantly associated with advanced fibrosis (OR 2.62).

Conclusions:

• Regular monitoring of ALT, AST, and GGT levels is vital for identifying pediatric CHB patients at high risk.
• Age and biochemical markers (ALT, GGT) are valuable predictors of liver inflammation and fibrosis severity.
• Integrating these factors into non-invasive algorithms can improve early detection and management of pediatric liver pathology.