Low plasma apolipoprotein A-I level is not a reliable marker of fibrosis in children with chronic hepatitis B.

Aim: To evaluate the clinical value of plasma apolipoprotein A-I (Apo A-I) as a marker of fibrosis in children with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods: Liver biopsy specimens from 49 children with CHB were evaluated by using Knodell index. Plasma Apo A-I level was measured after 12-h fasting. Student's t test, Spearman's correlation test and receptor-operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used for statistical evaluation.

Results: Mean Apo A-I level of the patients was not different from that of controls (P>0.05). Six (8.7%) children had fibrosis score of more than 2 (severe fibrosis). No difference in the level of mean plasma Apo A-I was found among children with and without severe fibrosis (P>0.05). No correlation between Apo A-I level and fibrosis scores was found (P>0.05). The area under the ROC curve was 0.407+/-0.146 (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Severe fibrosis is not common in children with CHB and plasma Apo A-I level is not a reliable indicator of fibrosis.