Serum transferrin as a liver fibrosis biomarker in patients with chronic hepatitis B

Background/Aims: Transferrin and alpha-1 antitrypsin are reportedly associated with liver fibrosis. We evaluated the usefulness of serum transferrin and alpha-1 antitrypsin as new liver fibrosis markers in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Methods: The study included 293 patients with chronic hepatitis B who underwent a liver biopsy between October 2005 and June 2009, and who had no history of hepatocellular carcinoma. Serum markers and liver fibrosis stages were compared. Results: Univariate analysis revealed that age (P< 0.001), serum platelet count (P< 0.001), and serum alkaline phosphatase level (P= 0.003) differed significantly between the patients with and without liver cirrhosis. Serum transferrin levels were significantly lower in advanced fibrosis than in mild fibrosis in both univariate analysis (P= 0.002) and multivariate analysis (P= 0.009). In addition, the serum transferrin level was significantly lower in cirrhotic patients than in noncirrhotic patients (P= 0.020). However, the serum level of alpha-1 antitrypsin was not significantly associated with liver cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Conclusions: Serum transferrin could be promising serum marker for predicting advanced liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.