METHODS FOR ASSESSING WHETHER A PATIENT SUFFERING FROM CHRONIC HEPATITIS B INFECTION IS ASSOCIATED WITH MODERATE OR ADVANCED FIBROSIS

摘要

The present invention relates to methods for assessing whether a patient suffering from chronic hepatitis B infection is associated with moderate or advanced fibrosis. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for assessing whether a patient suffering from chronic hepatitis B infection is associated with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis comprising the steps of (1) providing a blood sample from the patient, (2) determining the ALT level in the blood sample obtained from the patient and comparing said level with its predetermined reference value, (3) determining the HBV-DNA level in the blood sample obtained from the patient and comparing said level with its predetermined reference value, (4) detecting the presence or absence of the HBV 1762T/1764A variants in the blood sample obtained from the patient, (5) concluding that the patient has a high risk of having moderate to advanced liver fibrosis when the ALT level is higher than its predetermined reference value, the HBV-DNA level is higher than its predetermined reference value and the presence of the HBV 1762T/1764A variants is detected provided that the older the patient is, the higher the risk is.