Changes in serological biomarkers of liver function and connective tissue turnover in chronic hepatitis B during lamivudine therapy

Assessment of hepatic damage associated with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) currently relies on measurement of serum transaminases and assessment of hepatic histology. It was determined serum hepatic function tests and the liver fibrosis biomarkers type IV collagen (CIV), amino-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP), amino-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) and carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) were of value in monitoring the effect of lamivudine therapy for CHB. Thirty-nine patients received orally 100 mg lamivudine daily for 48 weeks. Blood samples were obtained at baseline, 24 and 48 weeks. At the end of the treatment period, the patients were then divided into four groups according to the pattern of HBs and HBe antigens. At baseline, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, PIIINP and the PINP/ICTP ratio and at 24 weeks alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and the PINP/ICTP ratio had lower values in the complete response compared with complete failure groups. Using receiver-operated curve analysis, only the PINP/ICTP ratio at baseline (area under the curve 0.806) and ALT and the PINP/ICTP ratio at 24 weeks (areas under the curve 0.803 and 0.776, respectively) had significant diagnostic ability in detecting responders. In conclusion, the PINP/ITCP ratio is sensitive and specific in detecting responders to treatment.     

基于临床数据构建慢性乙型肝炎患者肝纤维化的新型预测评分：S-risk score

基于临床数据构建一种预测慢性乙型肝炎肝纤维化的无创诊断模型。

收集2021年1月至2023年7月宁波市医疗中心李惠利医院收治的165例CHB患者病例资料作回顾性分析,根据肝活检病理结果将患者分为无肝纤维化组（S0,n = 22）和肝纤维化组（≥S1,n = 143）。收集患者的血清学指标和临床数据,运用单因素和多因素 logitstic回归分析筛选出独立预测指标并建立模型,同时采用受试者工作特征曲线（ROC）评价模型的预测效能。

单因素分析结果显示,两组患者在白蛋白、谷草转氨酶、甘油三酯、总胆汁酸、胆碱酯酶、凝血酶原时间、 BMI、血清Ⅳ胶原和血清透明质酸等指标中存在差异（P＜0.05）。通过logistic多因素的回归分析构建肝纤维化模型S-risk score = −4.30+0.12×白蛋白+0.02×谷草转氨酶−0.05×碱性磷酸酶+0.29×甘油三酯+0.06×总胆汁酸−0.47×凝血酶原时间+0.20×BMI+0.03×血清Ⅳ胶原测定+0.02×血清透明质酸。该评分下的ROC曲线下的面积为0.866,其预测肝纤维化的准确性明显优于APRI和FIB-4两项评分模型。

我们构建的S-risk score模型对CHB患者肝纤维化有良好的预测能力,其预测准确性均高于APRI和FIB-4两项评分模型。

     

预测核苷(酸)类似物停药后慢性乙型肝炎复发的生化标记筛查及其临床应用

为探寻核苷(酸)类似物停药后慢性乙型肝炎复发的相关因素及可能血清标记,收集经核苷(酸)类似物治疗的乙型肝炎病毒e抗原(hepatitis B virus e antigen,HBeAg)阳性或阴性慢性乙型肝炎患者,根据治疗应答对其能否停药进行临床评估,分析达到停药标准患者的临床资料,包括性别,年龄,疗程,HBeAg水平,基线丙氨酸氨基转移酶(alanine aminotransferase,ALT)、HBV DNA,停药时的肝硬度值、HBV表面抗原(HBV surface antigen,HBsAg)水平、白细胞介素21(interleukin 21,IL-21)水平、外周血CD4~+IL-21~+T细胞频数。结果显示,共47例患者符合停药标准,其中HBeAg阳性26例,HBeAg阴性21例;平均年龄(42.45±14.08)岁。抗病毒疗程平均为(4.60±1.61)年。抗病毒治疗初始ALT值为(174.38±200.84)U/L;基线HBV DNA为(5.87±1.06)log拷贝/mL;停药时HBsAg精确定量平均为(1 104.82±1 328.11)IU/mL,IL-21平均为(729.82±427.39)pg/mL,CD4~+IL-21~+T细胞频数平均为(0.79±0.49)%,肝硬度测定F1 27例、F2 16例、F3 4例、F4 0例。共27例患者复发,1年内累积复发率为57.45%。Logistic回归单因素分析提示,慢性乙型肝炎患者停用核苷(酸)类似物后复发与服药总疗程及停药时IL-21水平、CD4~+IL-21~+T细胞频数、HBsAg水平有关;Logistic回归多因素分析则提示,停药时HBsAg和IL-21水平与复发有关。因此,停药时HBsAg和IL-21水平可作为慢性乙型肝炎患者停用核苷(酸)类似物后复发的预测因素。     

慢性乙肝肝硬化患者肝性脑病不同分级与肝脏储备功能的相关性

回顾性研究分析慢性乙肝肝硬化并发不同分级的肝性脑病（HE）患者的临床特点,探究影响HE患者预后的因素。

将380例HE患者根据临床症状进行分级,分为1～4级。分析各级HE患者的性别、年龄、实验室检查情况、终末期肝病模型（MELD）、谷草转氨酶与血小板计数比值（APRI）及白蛋白与总胆红素比值（ALBI）。采用Spearman相关性分析轻、重型HE的影响因素,并使用多因素Logistic回归法分析HE预后的影响因素,最后选用ROC曲线来评估各种独立变量对HE预后的预测价值。

1～4级HE患者组间性别、年龄差异均无统计学意义（均P＞0.05）,而血氨、MELD、APRI和ALB差异均有统计学差异（均P＜0.05）。轻、重型HE患者中性粒细胞计数和淋巴细胞计数的比值（NLR）、血氨、总胆红素（TBil）、谷丙转氨酶（ALT）、谷草转氨酶（AST）、肿瘤坏死因子（TNF-α）、MELD、APRI及ALBI差异有统计学意义（均P＜0.05）。相关性分析显示,NLR、PLR、血氨、TBIL、ALT、AST及TNF-α是重型HE的独立影响因素。血氨及MELD评分与肝脏储备功能的相关性最高。NLR、血氨、TBil、TNF-α、高MELD评分及合并电解质紊乱均为HE预后的独立影响因素。ROC曲线分析显示,NLR的曲线下面积最大,其灵敏度最高、特异度也最大。

MELD、APRI和ALBI可用来评估不同分级HE患者的肝脏储备功能。在轻、重型HE中,血氨及MELD评分影响最大。在评估预后影响因素中,NLR水平可作为HE患者预后不良的危险因素。

     

Ferritin and liver fibrosis among patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

IntroductionIn chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection there is increased iron absorption leading to iron overload, a fact that may promote ferritin synthesis. Theoretically, increased ferritin should promote ongoing liver fibrosis but disparate results have been described.ObjectiveWe analyze the behavior of iron metabolism- related variables, comparing them with fibrosis and inflammatory activity in liver biopsy in HCV infected patients.Patients and MethodsWe analyzed among 90 HCV patients subjected to liver biopsy prior to antiviral treatment the relationships of serum levels of iron, ferritin, transferrin, transferrin saturation index (TSI) and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) with liver fibrosis and histological severity, assessed by Metavir-f, Metavir-a and Knodell indices, as well as with liver function, and also compared the aforementioned iron metabolism- related variables with 34 controls.ResultsPatients showed higher values of sideremia (T = 2.04; p = 0.044) and transferrin (T = 2.29; p = 0.004) compared with controls; but not ferritin, that was significantly higher among the 33 patients who also consumed alcohol (Z = 2.05; p = 0.041). Most patients showed a well preserved liver function (86 cases, Child A). Patients with Child B or C showed higher ferritin levels (Z = 2.68; p = 0.007) and TSI (Z = 2.41; p = 0.016), but lower transferrin and TIBC (Z = 3.25; p = 0.001) than Child A patients. Transferrin and TIBC were directly related to albumin (ρ = 0.24; p = 0.026), whereas bilirubin showed direct relationships with iron (ρ = 0.25; p = 0.016), TSI (ρ = 0.39; p < 0.001) and ferritin (ρ = 0.36; p < 0.001). Both ferritin (ρ = −0.22; p = 0.04) and TSI (ρ = −0.25; p = 0.016) were related to platelet count. No relationships were observed between iron variables and Knodell index, but serum iron, serum transferrin, and TSI were directly related to Metavir-f score (ρ = 0.28; p = 0.009, ρ = 0.22; p = 0.044, and ρ = 0.22; p = 0.044, in this order).ConclusionAlterations of iron related variables are relatively subtle in our series of 90 well compensated HCV patients. Serum ferritin was not related to liver fibrosis and increases only when alcoholism co-exists with HCV infection.     

Anthropometric Cutoff Points for Predicting Chronic Diseases in the Mexican National Health Survey 2000

Objective: To determine optimum anthropometric cutoffs for predicting the likelihood ratios of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HT) in Mexicans. Research Methods and Procedures: Data from a randomly selected, nationally representative health survey (2000) with 11, 730 men [37.4 (± 12.9) years] and 26, 647 women [37.3(± 12.9) years] were assessed for values of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) for predicting DM or HT by receiver operating characteristic curve analyses. Likelihood ratios for DM and HT were calculated, and BMIs or WCs for public‐health screening were developed. Subanalyses included regional data. Results: Likelihood ratios of DM and HT increased from BMI values of 22 to 24 kg/m² in both sexes and with WC values of 75 to 80 cm in men and 70 to 80 cm in women. The best BMI cutoffs for predicting DM were 26.3 to 27.4 kg/m² in men and 27.7 to 28.9 kg/m² in women, with similar values for HT, i.e., 26.2 to 27.0 kg/m² and 27.7 to 28.5 kg/m², for men and women, respectively; WC cutoffs for DM were 93 to 98 cm in men and 94 to 99 cm in women, and cutoffs for HT were 92 to 96 cm and 93 to 96 cm for men and women, respectively. The WC cutoffs had higher sensitivity and specificity than those of BMI. Discussion: The risk for DM and HT starts at lower levels of BMI and WC than those suggested by WHO. WC is a better discriminator than BMI measures for use in public health.     

聚乙二醇干扰素a-2a联合拉米夫定治疗HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎疗效观察

目的目的观察聚乙二醇干扰素a-2a联合拉米夫定治疗HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎疗效。方法采用开放、随机、对照临床试验。所选120例患者分为两组：PegIFNa-2a联合拉米夫定组（A组）和单用PegIFNa-2a组（B组）。分别在治疗12周、24周、治疗52周停药及停药后随访26周时进行疗效评价。结果A、B组治疗结束时HBVDNA阴转率分别为86．7％（52／60）、53．3％（32／60）;ALT复常率88．3％（53／60）、60％（36／60）;HBeAg阴转率70％（42／60）、38．3％（23／60）;HBsAg阴转率26．7％（16／60）、11．7％（7／60）;抗-HBs阳转率分别为23．3％（14／60）、8．3％（5／60）;抗-HBeAb阳转率分别为65．0％（39／60）、35．0％（21／60）,差异均具有统计学意义（P〈0．01或P〈0．05）。结论PegIFNa-2a联合拉米夫定治疗HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎的疗效优于单用Peg IFNa-2a     

慢性乙型肝炎青年男性患者的勃起功能及性激素水平的研究

目的研究慢性乙型肝炎青年男性患者的勃起功能及性激素水平,探讨二者之间可能的关系。方法共有61例慢性乙型肝炎青年男性患者入选,其中轻度18例,中度22例,重度21例,20例健康男性志愿者作为对照,比较其国际勃起功能5项指数(IIEF-5)量表得分及睾酮、雌二醇和促泌乳素水平。结果慢性乙型肝炎青年男性患者均有不同程度的勃起功能障碍,明显高于正常对照组(P0.001),重度患者与轻中度患者比较IIEF-5评分较低,均数比较差异有显著性(P0.001～0.027),雌二醇/睾酮比值在4组间比较,差异无显著性(F=1.99,P=0.120),所有肝炎患者睾酮、雌二醇水平均较正常对照组升高(P0.01),中重度患者的促泌乳素水平较正常对照组高(P0.001)。结论慢性乙型肝炎青年男性患者的国际勃起功能指数明显降低,勃起功能障碍发生率明显升高,其机制可能与雌二醇及促泌乳素升高有关。     

蚓激酶在慢性乙型肝炎治疗中的潜在作用

纤连蛋白(FN)是参与乙型肝炎病毒感染和肝脏纤维化的重要分子。 蚓激酶(LK)是从赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia foetide)中提取的一组蛋白水解同工酶,能水解纤维蛋白治疗凝血相关疾病。 从这组同工酶中分离纯化出单一活性成分,在体外可降解纤连蛋白,被命名为蚯蚓纤连蛋白水解酶(EFNase)。 然而,LK 能否预防乙型肝炎病毒感染以及缓解因乙型肝炎导致的肝脏损伤等问题还不清楚。本研究以人肝癌细胞系HepG2.2.15为细胞模型,观察LK 对乙型肝炎表面抗原(HBsAg)或 FN 水平的影响;以 C57BL / 6J-HBV 转基因小鼠为动物模型,探讨 LK 对小鼠血清中 HBsAg、FN、丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)水平及肝脏病理改变的影响。结果表明,LK 在体内外均能抑制HBsAg 的生成,降低血清和肝脏FN。与生理盐水处理组相比,LK 改善了肝脏的状态。这些数据为理解LK 作为治疗乙型肝炎的潜在有效药物的治疗作用提供了有价值的信息。     

Protein degradation fragments as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of connective tissue diseases: understanding the extracellular matrix message and implication for current and future serological biomarkers

The aim of this review is to discuss the potential usefulness of novel biochemical markers of connective tissues: neo-epitopes of extracellular matrix proteins generated by post-translational modifications by tissue proteinases. As each modification results from a specific local physiological or pathobiological process, the identification of specific proteinase-mediated cleavage products of tissue-specific proteins may produce a unique disease-specific biochemical marker. The authors present a novel interpretation of the process of tissue degradation described by neo-epitope fragments of the interstitial and basement membrane matrix in fibrotic disease, and the diagnostic and prognostic potential of such markers. Moreover, the authors highlight the importance of matrix protein fragments not only as markers of tissue remodeling, but also as players in tissue remodeling, due to their signaling properties.     

Histological change after interferon therapy in chronic hepatitis C in view of iron deposition in the liver

We examined the efficacy of interferon (IFN) therapy for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in view of the change of liver histology and iron staining before and after IFN therapy. Enrolled in this study were 109 patients with CHC who completed IFN treatment and were followed for at least 1 yr after the end of IFN therapy. Serum iron, unsaturated-iron-binding capacity (UIBC), and total-iron-binding capacity (TIBC) were assessed before IFN therapy. Knodell’s histological activity index (HAI) score and iron staining were examined in 55 patients in whom liver biopsy was performed at two points: before and 1 yr after IFN therapy. Serum iron levels before IFN therapy did not correlate with the response to IFN. The HAI score significantly decreased after IFN therapy in complete responders (p<0.01) and biochemical responders (p<0.01). Three factors in the HAI, periportal necrosis, intralobular necrosis, and portal inflammation, but not fibrosis, were significantly decreased in complete responders (p<0.01) and biochemical responders (p<0.01). Of 55 patients, 23 (41.8%) were positive for iron staining before IFN therapy and 14 of 55 (25.5%) after IFN therapy. The positive rate for iron staining tended to decrease after IFN therapy, not correlating to the response to IFN, but the change was not statistically significant. In conclusion, the histological improvement by IFN therapy was mostly seen in necroinflammatory changes but not in fibrosis at least 1 yr after IFN, and iron staining tended to decrease after IFN therapy.     

Comparison and significance of specific and non-specific cellular immunity in patients with chronic hepatitis B caused by infection with genotypes B or C of hepatitis B virus

The present study was designed to investigate possible relationships between the genotypes of hepa-titis B virus (HBV) and the HBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses. HBV genotypes, HBV specific CTL HBV DNA and other markers of HBV infection were determined in 138 patients with chronic hepatitis B. The results showed that the patients infected with genotype C (n=62) had a significantly lower HBV-specific CTL response than those who were infected with HBV genotype B (P<0.01). HBV DNA titer was higher in patients infected with HBV genotype C than in those infected with HBV geno-type B (P<0.01). Both alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total bilirubin (TBIL) were higher in HBV genotype C infected patients than in those infected with genotype B (P<0.01 and <0.05, respectively). These results suggest that compared with CHB patients infected with HBV genotype B, the higher HBV DNA level and more severe liver damages in the patients infected with genotype C of HBV may be as-sociated with genotype C of the virus.     

慢性乙型肝炎肝星状细胞形态改变与肝脏微循环障碍的关系

目的研究慢性乙型肝炎肝星状细胞形态改变与肝脏微循环障碍的关系。方法采用光镜观察肝星状细胞内脂滴数和体密度的变化,同时采用透射电镜观察肝星状细胞超微结构的变化和肝窦微循环结构的改变。结果慢性乙型肝炎肝星状内脂滴数减少,典型肝星状细胞数量减少,过渡型肝星状细胞数量增多,超微结构显示核被膜表面不规则,胞质内粗面内质网明显增多,多扩张,内有中等电子密度的絮状物质,高尔基复合体发达,细胞周围胶原原纤维量明显增多。肝窦内皮细胞窗孔减少变小,有的肝窦内皮细胞内出现WP（Weibel—Paladebody）小体。狄氏腔中胶原纤维沉积增多,肝窦内皮细胞下有基底膜形成。结论肝星状细胞激活后形态改变是肝脏微循环障碍的重要促进因素。     

Construction and Comparison of Two Receiver Operating Characteristic Curves Derived from the Same Samples

Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves are used to describe the performance of diagnostic procedures. This paper proposes a simple method for the statistical comparison of two ROC curves derived from the same set of patients and the same set of healthy subjects. Generalization to studies involving more than two screening factors is straightforward. This method does not require the calculation of variances of the areas or difference of areas under the curves.     

Consolidation treatment needed for sustained HBsAg-negative response induced by interferon-alpha in HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B patients

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) clearance is considered as functional cure in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This study aimed to assess the durability of HBsAg clearance achieved by interferon-based therapies in patients with CHB who were originally positive for hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg). In this prospective study, HBeAg-positive CHB patients with confirmed HBsAg loss under interferon-based therapies were enrolled within 12 weeks from end of treatment and followed up for 48 weeks. Virological markers, biochemical indicators, and liver imaging examinations were observed every 3-6 months. Sustained functional cure was analysed as primary outcome. Factor associated with sustained HBsAg loss or reversion was also investigated. The rate of HBsAg loss sustainability was 91.8% (212/231). Patients receiving consolidation treatment for 12-24 weeks or ≥ 24 weeks had higher rates of sustained HBsAg negativity than those receiving consolidation treatment for < 12 weeks (98.3% and 91.2% vs. 86.7%, P=0.068), and the former groups had significantly higher anti-HBs levels than the later (P < 0.05). The cumulative incidence of HBsAg reversion and HBV DNA reversion was 8.2% and 3.9%, respectively. Consolidation treatment of ≥ 12 weeks[odd ratio (OR) 3.318, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.077-10.224, P=0.037) was a predictor of sustained functional cure, and HBeAg-positivity at cessation of treatment (OR 12.271, 95% CI 1.076-139.919, P=0.043) was a predictor of HBsAg reversion. Interferon-alpha induced functional cure was durable and a consolidation treatment of ≥ 12-24 weeks was needed after HBsAg loss in HBeAg-positive CHB patients.     

Cytokine expression during chronic versus occult hepatitis B virus infection in HIV co-infected individuals

Chronic hepatitis B virus infection is characterized by persistent detectable levels of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV DNA in the serum. In contrast, HBsAg is not detectable during occult HBV infection, despite the presence of HBV DNA. An altered host immune response could play a role in the development of occult HBV infection; however, potential differences in immune responses among chronic and occult HBV-infected patients have not been evaluated in vivo. In the current study, we evaluated serum levels of regulatory, apoptotic, and fibrotic/anti-fibrotic cytokines/markers as indicators of immune responses in 25 chronic and 12 occult HBV-infected patients. More than half of the patients in both chronic and occult HBV infection groups had IL-2, IL-4, IL-13, and IFN-γ levels below detectable limits. In contrast, most patients had detectable levels of IL-8, IL-10, IP-10, sFas, sFasL, and TGF-β1. Of these, only sFas was significantly different between the two groups, with lower levels observed during occult compared to chronic HBV infection (p = 0.01). As a surrogate marker of apoptotic inhibition, decreased sFas during occult HBV infection suggests that apoptosis occurs at different rates in occult compared to chronic HBV infection and therefore, may contribute to persistence of occult HBV infection.     

Association of α-fetoprotein levels with liver stiffness measurement in outpatients with chronic hepatitis B

The association between α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels with the assessment of liver stiffness (LS) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients were explored. A total of 283 outpatients with CHB were enrolled. Patient age, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), AFP, platelet (PLT), total bilirubin (TB), direct bilirubin (DB), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), albumin (ALB), globulin, and albumin/globulin (A/G) levels were associated with LS values in the univariate model (P<0.05). Significant associations between AFP and PLT levels with LS values were observed when both variables were included in the multivariate analysis models. Receiver operation characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated that the combination of AFP and PLT levels could enhance the predictive performance of liver fibrosis (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.819, P<0.001) and that PLT levels (PLT < 100 × 10⁹/l) combined with high AFP levels (AFP > 8 ng/ml) significantly increased the prediction of liver fibrosis (OR = 11.216). More importantly, LS values associated with higher AFP levels (AFP > 8 ng/ml), independently of higher ALT or AST values, were significantly higher than those of low AFP level groups. In conclusion, in Chinese outpatients with CHB, AFP outperformed ALT and/or AST levels in terms of their association with LS. AFP and PLT levels were independently associated with LS, and their combined assessment could enhance the diagnostic and predictive performance of liver fibrosis among CHB patients.     

胸腺肽治疗慢性乙型肝炎疗效分析

研究胸腺肽对慢性乙型肝炎的治疗作用。治疗组在综合疗法基础上加用胸腺肽注射液,对照组采用综合保肝疗法,疗程均为３ 个月。结果：治疗组优于对照组（Ｐ＜ ０－０１） 。结论：胸腺肽对乙型肝炎病毒血清学指标（ＨＢＶ—Ｍ） 的复制有抑制作用     

联合疗法对慢性乙型肝炎患者红细胞免疫功能的影响

目的观察拉米夫定与氧化苦参碱单用及联合治疗对慢性乙型肝炎(CHB)患者红细胞免疫功能的影响.方法 77例CHB患者随机分成拉米夫定组、氧化苦参碱组和两者联合治疗组,分别对其红细胞膜CD35、CD44s分子定量、红细胞天然免疫粘附功能(CR1分子粘附活性)、红细胞CR1分子密度相关基因型进行测定.结果各组CHB患者红细胞粘附肿瘤细胞能力治疗后较治疗前明显上升(P＜0.05);3组药物对CHB患者红细胞CR1和CD44s分子数量有明显提高作用(P＜0.01),联合组最显著;77例CHB患者治疗前后CR1分子密度相关基因多态性表达型别比率无变化,但CR1分子数量发生明显变化(P＜0.05).结论联合疗法可明显提高CHB患者红细胞免疫功能.     

Modulation of bile acid profile by gut microbiota in chronic hepatitis B

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a global epidemic disease that may progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The role of the liver‐bile acid‐microbiota axis in CHB remains unclear. The aims of this study are to elucidate the alteration of the gut microbiota and its functions in bile acid homeostasis in CHB patients with different degrees of fibrosis. In the present study, we evaluated serum and faecal bile acid profiles in healthy controls and CHB patients with biopsy‐proven diagnosis: patients had stage 0‐1 fibrosis were classified as mild CHB and patients had stage 2‐4 fibrosis were classified as moderate/advanced CHB. The levels of serum total bile acids (BAs) and primary BAs were increased in CHB patients with moderate/advanced fibrosis, whereas faecal total and secondary BAs levels were significantly lower. Analyses of gut microbiota exhibited a trend of decreased abundance in bacteria genera responsible for BA metabolism in CHB patients with moderate/advanced fibrosis. CHB is associated with altered bile acid pool which is linked with the dysregulated gut microbiota. The higher level of FGF‐19 may act in a negative feedback loop for maintaining the bile acid homeostasis.