Plasma microRNA-30a expression in patients with chronic hepatitis B and its application value in the assessment of the severity of liver fibrosis.

Objective: The severity of liver fibrosis (LF) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) affects the outcome and treatment. We probed plasma miR-30a expression in CHB patients and its value in assessing LF severity.

Methods: This retrospective study included 160 CHB patients and another 98 controls. Levels of lipid parameters, liver function parameters, hemoglobin, and alpha-fetoprotein were quantified by ELISA and chemiluminescence immunoassay. White blood cell, platelet, and red blood cell counts were determined using an automatic hematology analyzer. Fibrosis index based on four factors (FIB-4) was calculated. miR-30a level was determined, followed by the analysis of correlations of miR-30a expression with LF classification or with FIB-4 in CHB patients. The diagnostic value of plasma miR-30a for mild-to-moderate and severe LF in CHB patients was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

Results: Plasma miR-30a was poorly expressed in CHB patients and decreased dependently with LF aggravation. miR-30a was negatively interrelated with LF classification and FIB-4. Plasma miR-30a had high diagnostic value for mild-to-moderate LF in CHB patients [area under the ROC curve (AUC) = 0.775, cutoff value = 0.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.685-0.849]. Plasma miR-30a had high diagnostic value for severe LF in CHB patients (AUC = 0.873, cutoff value = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.804-0.924).

Conclusion: Plasma miR-30a was weakly expressed in CHB patients. miR-30a expression was negatively correlated with LF severity in CHB patients. miR-30a had high diagnostic value for mild-to-moderate and severe LF in CHB patients. miR-30a might serve as a promising target for LF treatment.