The Value of PDGFRβ-Based Score in Predicting Liver Fibrosis Stage in Egyptian Patients with NAFLD and Viral Liver Disease

Abstract Background Multiple therapeutic efforts have focused on Platelet Derived Growth Factor Receptor beta (PDGFRB) because of its association with hepatic stellate cell activation in liver fibrosis. Yet, its potential as a diagnostic tool is essentially unexplored. Objective This research was done to assess the value of the sPDGFRβ based-score in predicting liver fibrosis stages in Egyptian patients with NAFLD and viral liver disease in correlation with NAFLD fibrosis score and Fibro-scan. Methods In this case-control study, patients with liver fibrosis/cirrhosis related to viral hepatitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were categorized according to the degree of fibrosis detected by Fibro-scan, and their circulating PDGFRB levels were compared. The diagnostic roles of PDGFRβ as an individual blood parameter or combined with other metabolic parameters were assessed and compared to previously validated clinical fibrosis scores Fib-4, APRI, and AST/ALT ratio in both groups of patients and to NAFLD fibrosis score in NAFLD patients. Findings Patients with advanced fibrosis showed the greatest rise in sPDGFRB compared to those with absent or mild fibrosis. Combining sPDGFRB-levels with platelet counts and albumin levels into a new diagnostic algorithm, the PRTA-score, improved the accuracy of sPDGFRB-levels in predicting fibrosis; the score generated a predictive value that was higher than Fib-4, APRI, and AST/ALT in NAFLD and viral liver disease, and higher than the NAFLD fibrosis score in the NAFLD group. Finally, we used case-control research to verify the diagnostic significance of sPDGFRB levels and the PRTA-score in identifying severe liver fibrosis in NAFLD and viral hepatitis. Interpretation This research concluded that patients with viral hepatitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).may benefit from the PRTA-score since it is an effective method for diagnosing advanced liver fibrosis