Abstract: Objective To investigate the correlation and clinical significance of hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) with hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid (HBV-DNA), Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and liver fibrosis stage in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods CHB patients admitted to our hospital from January 2018 to December 2022 were selected as study objects, and were divided into mild group (stage S0-S1, 50 cases) and moderate and severe group (stage S2-S4,150cases) according to the severity of fibrosis. Clinical data and laboratory indicators in the two groups were compared. Spearman/Pearson was used to analyze the correlation between HBcAb and HBV-DNA, HBsAg and liver fibrosis stage. LASSO regression was used to screen variables. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to assess the diagnostic performance. Results Univariate analysis showed that the duration of disease in the moderate-severe group was longer; the grading distribution of liver inflammation was more severe; ALT, AST, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, laminin, type III procollagen N-terminal peptide, hyaluronic acid, type IV collagen and HBcAb were higher; HBV-DNA and HBsAg were lower compared with the mild group (P<0.05). HBcAb was positively correlated with liver fibrosis, and HBV-DNA and HBsAg were negatively correlated with liver tissue fibrosis staging (P<0.05). The 13 variables with P<0.05 in univariate analysis were screened out 4 to identify four variables liver inflammation grade, HBcAb, HBV-DNA and HBsAg by LASSO regression, which were related factors of moderate and severe liver fibrosis (P<0.05). The AUC for the combination of liver inflammation grading, HBcAb, HBV-DNA and HBsAg in the diagnosis of moderate and severe liver fibrosis was superior to any single test. Conclusion HBcAb was positively correlated with liver fibrosis, while HBV-DNA and HBsAg were negatively correlated with liver fibrosis. All the above indicators are related factors for moderate to severe liver fibrosis, which have certain diagnostic value and provide cetrain reference for clinical prediction of moderate to severe liver fibrosis.

Key words: CHB, Core antibody, HBV-DNA, HBsAg, Liver tissue, Fibrosis staging