Chinese Hepatolgy ›› 2026, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (8): 1096-1100.

• Liver Fibrosis and Cirrhosis • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The clinical value of ultrasound elastography combined with serum levels of NOX2 and CX3CL1 in the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B patients

Liu Yanxia1, Liang Zhandong2, Wu Bo3   

  1. 1. Department of Ultrasound, Zhangjiakou Infectious Disease Hospital, Zhangjiakou 075000, China;
    2. Department of Medical Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou 075000, China;
    3. Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhangjiakou Infectious Disease Hospital, Zhangjiakou 075000, China
  • Received:2025-08-03 Online:2026-08-31 Published:2026-09-28
  • Contact: Liang Zhandong,Email:dongzi421077855@163.com

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Abstract: Objective To explore the diagnostic value of ultrasound elastography (UE) combined with serum levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX2) and CX3C chemokine ligand (CX3CL1) for liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Methods A total of 159 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients admitted to Zhangjiakou Infectious Disease Hospital from May 2023 to April 2025 were designated as the study cohort. They were separated into a non-occurrence group (n=64) and an occurrence group (n=95) based on whether the patients had significant liver fibrosis. Another 137 healthy individuals were designated as a healthy control group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect serum NOX2 and CX3CL1. The correlation between serum NOX2, CX3CL1 and liver fibrosis staging in CHB patients was explored by Spearman method. Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore the influencing factors of significant liver fibrosis in CHB patients. ROC was used to explore and evaluate the diagnostic value of elastic modulus value and serum NOX2 and CX3CL1 for significant liver fibrosis in CHB patients. Results The research group had higher serum NOX2 (7.27±1.48 ng/mL vs. 4.12±0.67 ng/mL, t=22.963, P<0.001), and lower CX3CL1 than the healthy group (6.83±1.42 ng/mL vs. 9.05±1.49 ng/mL, t=13.109, P<0.001). The occurrence group had higher elastic modulus value and serum level NOX2 (9.22±1.97 kPa vs. 6.63±1.12 kPa, 7.89±1.42 ng/mL vs. 6.36±1.04 ng/mL, t=9.526, 7.385, P<0.001), and lower CX3CL1 than the non-occurrence group (6.26±1.14 ng/mL vs. 7.68±1.37 ng/mL, t=7.096, P<0.001). Spearman analysis showed a prominent correlation between serum NOX2 and CX3CL1 levels with the staging of liver fibrosis in CHB patients (r=0.463、-0.440, P<0.05). Multiple logistic regression showed that the occurrence of significant liver fibrosis in CHB patients was related to the course of CHB (OR=1.608), the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (OR=1.419), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (OR=1.263), NOX2 (OR=2.032), and CX3CL1 (OR=0.927) (P<0.05). The results of receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) values of elastic modulus, serum NOX2 and CX3CL1 levels in the diagnosis of significant liver fibrosis in CHB patients were 0.863, 0.803, and 0.787, respectively. The AUC (0.948) for the combined diagnosis of these three indicators was higher than that of NOX2 (Z=4.961, P<0.001) and CX3CL1 (Z=4.941, P<0.001) alone in the diagnosis of significant liver fibrosis in CHB patients. Conclusion CHB patients have higher serum NOX2 and lower CX3CL1 levels. The elastic modulus value detected by UE combined with serum levels of NOX2 and CX3CL1 has good diagnostic efficacy for significant liver fibrosis, which is of positive significance for the development of multimodal diagnostic strategies.

Key words: Chronic hepatitis B, Liver fibrosis, Ultrasonic elastography, Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, CX3C chemokine ligand 1, Diagnostic value