Association of CXCR4 gene expression and promoter methylation with chronic hepatitis B-related fibrosis/cirrhosis.

Objective: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) virus infection remains a major public health concern. In this study, the diagnostic capability of C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 promoter methylation in patients with CHB-associated liver fibrosis/cirrhosis was evaluated.

Methods: Two hundred participants were recruited, including 25 healthy controls (HCs), 60 patients with CHB and 115 patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver fibrosis/LC.