Liver Fibrosis Assessment using Transient Elastography among Chronic Hepatitis B Patients in Jos, North Central Nigeria

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Liver fibrosis assessment is crucial for clinical management of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, 
to predict prognosis, therapeutic decisions and long-term monitoring. It is important to have an early diagnosis of liver cirrhosis in CHB patients because cirrhosis is an independent predictor of mortality. Similarly, early diagnosis and staging of fibrosis are very important considering current evidence that prompts initiation of fibrosis treatment and that of the underlying cause could halt progression to cirrhosis and HCC and enhance its reversal or resolution. It is therefore important that every CHB patient has an initial fibrosis assessment and subsequently for monitoring of disease progression or response to treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To assess for the prevalence of liver fibrosis among chronic hepatitis B patients in Jos, using transient elastography.

METHODOLOGY: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study, where 120 CHB adult patients attending the gastroenterology clinic were consecutively recruited. A questionnaire was used to seek information from the subjects. Transient elastography was done for all participants, and the data obtained were analysed using SPSS version 25.

RESULTS:  The mean study age of participants was 36 12 years, with 69 (57.5%) females and 51 (42.5%) males. There was no or minimal fibrosis (F0/F1) in 73.3%, and significant fibrosis ( F2) in 26,7%. Increasing age, lack of formal education, rural residence, and female gender were all associated with liver fibrosis (p =0.001, 0.001, 0.001 and 0.024, respectively)

CONCLUSION: A significant fibrosis of 26.7% among asymptomatic CHB patients demonstrates the need for fibrosis assessment for every patient with CHB, even without symptoms.