Value of aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index in diagnosis and prediction of liver fibrosis degree in patients with chronic hepatitis B

Objective To investigate the value of aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index ( APRI) in the diagnosis and prediction of liver fibrosis degree in patients with chronic hepatitis B ( CHB) . Methods A total of 69 treatment-na6 ve CHB patients who were diagnosed in The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical University from January 2014 to December 2016 were enrolled, and among these patients, 37 had positive HBeAg and 32 had negative HBeAg. Liver biopsy was performed, and a histopathological method was used to evaluate liver inflammation and fibrosis degree. APRI was calculated, the receiver operating characteristic ( ROC) curve was plotted, and the correlation between APRI and liver fibrosis degree was analyzed. The independent samples t-test was used for normally distributed continuous data between two groups, the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups, and the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison between multiple groups. The chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. Results The HBeAg-negative group had a significantly higher APRI than the HBeAg-positive group[0. 890 ( 0. 370-3. 000) vs 0. 520 ( 0. 355-0. 652) , Z =-2. 024, P = 0. 025], and there was a significant difference in APRI between patients with different liver fibrosis degrees ( χ2= 10. 004, P = 0. 040) . The cut-off value of APRI for predicting severe liver fibrosis ( ≥F2) was 1. 06, and the area under the ROC curve was 0. 673 ( 95% CI: 0. 426-0. 920) . Conclusion APRI has a good value in the diagnosis and prediction of liver fibrosis degree and stage in patients with CHB.