Predictors of advanced liver fibrosis and the performance of fibrosis scores: lean compared to non-lean metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) patients.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in lean patients differs from that of NAFLD in non-lean patients. However, current data regarding predictors of advanced fibrosis and the performance of fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) and NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) in lean compared to non-lean metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) patients is insufficient. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. Lean was defined as Body Mass Index <25 kg/m2. Advanced fibrosis (F3-F4) was detected by liver biopsy or two-dimension shear wave elastography (2D-SWE). Predictors of advanced fibrosis were identified using logistic regression and area under ROC curves (AUROC) were derived for FIB-4 and NFS. RESULTS: Lean patients (N.=153) comprised 19.2% of the MASLD cohort. Advanced fibrosis was associated with the number of cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRF) in lean (OR=2.06, P=0.011) and non-lean (OR=1.58, P<0.001) patients, however, hypertension and diabetes or impaired fasting glucose were significant only among non-lean. Age was associated with advanced fibrosis in both subgroups with age ≥65 showing higher odds in lean compared to non-lean patients (P=0.016). Non-lean patients had higher odds for advanced fibrosis relative to lean patients (OR=4.8, P=0.048). FIB-4 and NFS predicted advanced fibrosis among lean (AUROC=0.79 and AUROC=0.85, respectively) and non-lean (AUROC=0.79 and AUROC=0.76, respectively) patients. NFS ≥-1.445 showed higher specificity among lean compared to non-lean (P<0.001) and compared to that of FIB-4 ≥1.3 in lean patients (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The number of CMRF was predictive of advanced fibrosis in both subgroups while age ≥65 showed higher odds among lean patients. NFS ≥-1.445 is more specific than FIB-4 ≥1.3 for advanced fibrosis prediction in lean patients. These findings may help identify high-risk lean MASLD patients for further liver fibrosis stage assessment.

HBV-RNA, Quantitative HBsAg, Levels of HBV in Peripheral Lymphocytes and HBV Mutation Profiles in Chronic Hepatitis B.

A comprehensive characterization of chronic HBV (CHB) patients is required to guide therapeutic decisions. The cumulative impact of classical and novel biomarkers on the clinical categorization of these patients has not been rigorously assessed. We determined plasma HBV-RNA and HBsAg levels, HBV in peripheral lymphocytes (PBMCs) and HBV mutation profiles in CHB patients. Patient demographics (n = 139) and classical HBV biomarkers were determined during a clinical routine. HBV-RNA in plasma and HBV-DNA in PBMCs were determined by RT-PCR. HBsAg levels were determined using Architect. In samples with HBV-DNA viral load >1000 IU/mL, genotype mutations in precore (PC), basal core promoter (BCP), HBsAg and Pol regions were determined by sequencing. Most patients (n = 126) were HBeAg-negative (HBeAgNeg) with significantly lower levels of HBV-RNA, HBV-DNA and HBsAg compared to HBeAg-positive (HBeAgPos) patients (p < 0.05). HBV genotype D prevailed (61/68), and >95% had BCP/PC mutations. Escape mutations were identified in 22.6% (13/63). HBeAgNeg patients with low levels of HBsAg (log IU ≤ 3) were older and were characterized by undetectable plasma HBV-DNA and undetectable HBV-RNA but not undetectable HBV-DNA in PBMCs compared to those with high HBsAg levels. In >50% of the studied HBeAgNeg patients (66/126), the quantitation of HBsAg and HBV-RNA may impact clinical decisions. In conclusion, the combined assessment of classical and novel serum biomarkers, especially in HBeAgNeg patients, which is the largest group of CHB patients in many regions, may assist in clinical decisions. Prospective studies are required to determine the real-time additive clinical advantage of these biomarkers.

Prevalence of Axial Spondyloarthritis Among Patients With Fibromyalgia: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study With Application of the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society Classification Criteria.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of sacroiliitis, the radiographic hallmark of inflammatory spondyloarthropathy, among patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), using the current Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria and magnetic resonance imaging. METHODS: Patients experiencing FMS (American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria) were interviewed regarding the presence of spondyloarthritis (SpA) features and underwent HLA-B27 testing, C-reactive protein (CRP) level measurement, and magnetic resonance imaging examinations of the sacroiliac joints. FMS severity was assessed by the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and the Short Form 36 health survey. SpA severity was assessed by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index. RESULTS: Sacroiliitis was demonstrated among 8 patients (8.1%) and ASAS criteria for diagnosis of axial SpA were met in 10 patients (10.2%). Imaging changes suggestive of inflammatory involvement (e.g., erosions and subchondral sclerosis) were demonstrated in 15 patients (17%) and 22 patients (25%), respectively. The diagnosis of axial SpA was positively correlated with increased CRP level and with physical role limitation at recruitment. CONCLUSION: Imaging changes suggestive of axial SpA were common among patients with a diagnosis of FMS. These findings suggest that FMS may mask an underlying axial SpA, a diagnosis with important therapeutic implications. Physicians involved in the management of FMS should remain vigilant to the possibility of underlying inflammatory disorders and actively search for such comorbidities.