WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Obiomah Chinwe Favour*, Amilo Grace I., Obeagu Emmanuel Ifeanyi and Vincent C. C. N.

ABSTRACT

Hepatitis B is an infectious disease of great public health importance. Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest incidence of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection worldwide. However, the accessibility and affordability of HBV DNA quantification (viral load) assay which is the key laboratory test for therapy initiation, and monitoring is a challenge to HBV management. This study was designed to evaluate the non-invasive markers of fibrosis and their correlation with the viral load in subjects with hepatis B virus in Nnewi. Cross sectional study design was used with a total of 264 subjects comprising of 88 HBsAg seropositive treatment naïve subjects, 88 HBsAg seropositive subjects on antiviral therapy as case subjects and 88 age-matched apparently healthy HBsAg seronegative individuals were recruited as control subjects. Hepatitis B virus DNA assay was performed using real time PCR technique, Hepatitis C Virus assay, Human Immunodeficiency Virus testing, Gamma glutamyl transferase, Aspartate transaminase, Alanine transaminase tests were determined using spectrophotometric methods. Non-invasive markers of fibrosis - RDW-Platelet Ratio (RPR), Neutrophil to Lymphocyte ratio, Platelet to Lymphocyte ratio, GGT to Platelet ratio, AST-Platelet Ratio index and AST-ALT Ratio were calculated. The noninvasive markers of fibrosis –GGT to Platelet ratio, AST to platelet ratio and AST to ALT ratio were significantly higher in test subjects (0.06±0.11; 0.44±0.87; 1.49±0.86) compared with control subjects (0.02±0.01;0.11± 0.69;0.89±0.59 respectively, p<0.001). Some Liver function tests studied –gamma glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase were all significantly higher in test subjects 4.60±1.66U/L, 40.30±14.50U/L, 11.61±5.13U/L and 9.10±2.94U/L) compared with the control group(9.15±1.75µmol/l, 2.33±0.78U/L,28.89±5.17U/L, 5.98±0.11U/L and 7.07±1.49U/L). This study showed that noninvasive markers of fibrosis play significant role in HBV management but should not be used as its alternative.