Diagnostic value of serum hyaluronic acid in hepatic fibrosis of chronic viral hepatitis

Objective To investigate the clinical value of serum hyaluronic acid(HA) in the diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis in chronic viral hepatitis. Methods From January 2015 to February 2016, 108 patients with chronic viral hepatitis diagnosed by liver biopsy in Yuncheng Central Hospitalwere selected, and 30 healthy subjects were selected as controls.Serum HA was measured and the sensitivity and specificity of serum HA in the diagnosis of liver fibrosis were analyzed.The relationship between serum HA and liver pathological grade and staging were explored. Results The levels of serum HA in acute jaundice hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, mild and chronic hepatitis, moderate and chronic hepatitis, severe hepatitis and liver cirrhosis were (138.76±14.92)ng/L, (90.21±6.73)ng/L, (106.29±12.35)ng/L, (365.48 ± 25.39)ng/L, (597.24± 48.11)ng/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than (64.26±8.24)ng/L in the control group, the difference was statistically significant(t=8.723, 6.275, 22.025, 65.798, 63.670, all P<0.05). With the increase of liver fibrosis, serum HA level was significantly increased.Serum HA and liver inflammation activity classification and liver fibrosis staging had certain correlation(r=0.48, 0.43, all P<0.05), and the specificity was high. Conclusion Serum HA has a good diagnostic value in the diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis in chronic viral hepatitis. Key words: Hepatitis; Hepacivirus; Liver cirrhosis; Hyaluronic acid; Diagnosis; Specificity