Abstract

Aim: To assess how gender and body mass index might influence liver stiffness measurements in patients with chronic hepatitis B, nonreplicative B virus carriers compared to healthy subjects as well as studying the effects of sedentary behavior upon liver stiffness (LS).
Material and method: We performed an observational study on healthy subjects, nonreplicative B virus carriers and chronic hepatitis B patients from the Department of Gastroenterology, Timisoara. Patients were subdivided according to physical behavior. LS measurements were obtained by using FibroScan (Echosens, France). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated for every subject. Mean value for LS was calculated for each group.
Results: We evaluated 152 healthy subjects (87 women, 65 men, mean age 43.5±15.9), 139 nonreplicative B virus carriers (71 women, 68 men, mean age 38.6±12.9) and 352 patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B (116 women, 236 men, mean age 41.9±14.3). Among the three groups, 319 subjects affirmatively underwent moderate program of physical activity and 324 subjects had sedentary life. Male gender had significant higher LS values compared to female in all 643 subjects: healthy subjects (p<0.0001), nonreplicative B virus carriers (p=0.023) and patients with chronic hepatitis B (p=0.025). Patients with chronic hepatitis B who underwent moderate physical activity had a mean LS value significantly lower than those who were sedentary (6.5±2.4 kPa versus 7.2±2.6 kPa, p=0.0071).  According to BMI, obese patients from the healthy group had a mean LS value significantly higher compared to underweight persons (5.4±1.7kPa vs 3.9±0.7kPa, p=0.023). 
Conclusions: Male gender had higher LS values compared to female in all groups of subjects. Patients who affirmatively underwent moderate physical activity had lower LS values compared to those who were sedentary. BMI≥25 kg/m² influences liver stiffness values. Probably, a formula to correct liver stiffness value with gender and BMI may reflect more accurately liver fibrosis.