Korelasi Deoxyribonucleate Acid (DNA) Virus Hepatitis B (VHB) Dengan Skor Aminotransferase To Platelet Ratio (APRI) Dan Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) Pada Pasien Hepatitis B Kronik

Abstract

Background. Hepatitis B remains a major global health concern and a leading cause of chronic liver disease that can progress to hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Assessing the degree of liver fibrosis is essential for guiding appropriate management and determining prognosis. Non-invasive indices such as the Aspartate Aminotransferase to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) and the Fibrosis-4 Index (FIB-4) are widely used to estimate fibrosis severity, while hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels reflect viral replication activity and may contribute to hepatic injury progression. However, the association between HBV DNA levels and non-invasive fibrosis scores such as APRI and FIB-4 remains incompletely understood. Objective. To evaluate the correlation between HBV DNA levels and APRI and FIB-4 scores among patients with chronic hepatitis B. Methods. This cross-sectional study included patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B who met the inclusion criteria. HBV DNA levels were quantified using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). APRI and FIB-4 scores were calculated based on serum AST, ALT, platelet count, and patient age. Statistical analysis was performed using Spearman’s correlation test, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Results. A moderate positive correlation was observed between HBV DNA levels and the APRI score (r = 0.510; p < 0.001), and a weak positive correlation was found between HBV DNA levels and the FIB-4 score (r = 0.510; p < 0.001). These findings indicate that higher HBV DNA levels are associated with more advanced liver fibrosis, as reflected by elevated APRI and FIB-4 scores. Conclusion. HBV DNA levels show a moderate positive correlation with APRI scores and a weak positive correlation with FIB-4 scores in patients with chronic hepatitis B. These results suggest that HBV DNA levels may serve as an additional marker reflecting the degree of hepatic fibrosis and could aid in the clinical assessment of chronic hepatitis B patients.