Hyaluronic acid in the evaluation of liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C on haemodialysis
Avila, R.E.d.; Carmo, R.A.; Farah, K.át.d.P.; Teixeira, A.ôn.L.úc.; Coimbra, L.V.; Antunes, C.M.Ãc.d.F.; Lambertucci, J.é R.
Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases An Official Publication of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases 14(4): 335-341
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 1678-4391 PMID: 20963316 Document Number: 647001
This study evaluated the role of HA as a marker of liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C on haemodialysis. This is a cross-sectional study in which 52 patients were divided into two groups: Group 1: patients with hepatitis C and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing haemodialysis (n = 23); and Group 2: patients with hepatitis C without ESRD (n = 29). Plasma levels of HA were associated with histological data of the samples obtained by liver biopsy and classified by METAVIR group scoring system. Higher plasma levels were significantly correlated to significant liver fibrosis (METAVIR > F2). In Group 1, the HA cutoff to discriminate significant fibrosis was 984.8 ng/mL, with accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of 80.8%, 83.0%, and 70.0%, respectively. In Group 2, the HA cutoff was 222.3 ng/mL, with accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of 74.5%, 70.0%, and 94.0%, respectively. HA was an accurate noninvasive marker in predicting significant fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C on haemodialysis.