Dyslipidemia and impaired liver function biomarkers in patients with hepatitis B liver cirrhosis

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine changes in lipid metabolism and liver enzyme status among HBV-positive patients with liver cirrhosis. METHODS: A total of 300 HBV-positive patients with liver cirrhosis and 200 healthy controls were included in this case–control study. The patients were recruited from several tertiary care hospitals in Lahore from March to October 2021. Their blood samples were collected and analyzed for HBsAg, HBeAg, liver function biomarkers, and serum lipids. Liver cirrhosis was confirmed by ultrasonography and liver biopsy. The data were analyzed with chi-square test, Student's t-test, logistic regression, and ROC curve analysis. RESULTS: Serum liver function biomarkers were significantly higher, and serum lipid levels were substantially lower, in HBV-infected patients with liver cirrhosis than in controls. No significant associations of sex and age with dyslipidemia were observed in patients with cirrhosis. Grading and staging scores for liver cirrhosis were negatively associated with total cholesterol levels. Moreover, sex and high levels of liver enzymes were significant risk factors associated with dyslipidemia in HBV-positive patients with liver cirrhosis. The optimum cut-off values of liver enzymes and serum lipids for the prognosis of liver cirrhosis exceeded normal ranges. CONCLUSION: Serum lipid concentrations may serve as a clinical index to assess liver damage in HBV-positive patients.