Serum connective tissue markers as predictors of advanced fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B and D

Liver biopsy to assess fibrosis is invasive and prone to sampling error. While algorithms of serum markers to predict fibrosis stage have been described for chronic hepatitis C, these cannot be applied equally well to hepatitis B. We therefore determined 9 serum fibrosis markers, liver biochemical tests and ultrasound parameters in 109 consecutive adult patients with chronic hepatitis B and D. All patients had compensated liver disease. Using the METAVIR score, advanced disease was defined as fibrosis stage ≥F2, and active inflammation as grade ≥A2. A gold standard was created considering splenomegaly and/or platelets