Antiretroviral therapy can effectively control the replication of HIV, prolong the lifespan of patients infected with HIV, and improve their quality of life.At the same time, non-AIDS-related diseases such as diabetes and chronic liver diseases are increasing day by day.Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a chronic progressive liver disease caused by overnutrition and insulin resistance in genetically susceptible individuals. It was formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).With the continuous improvement of living standards and the constant change of lifestyles, the incidence of metabolic associated fatty liver disease is gradually increasing. Metabolic associated steatohepatitis (MASH) may further develop into liver cirrhosis, liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma, and is the third most common cause of liver transplantation.

In HIV patients, early identification of significant liver fibrosis and MASH with fibrosis is of vital importance.However, due to the fact that the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis in HIV patients is more complex than that in the general population, it involves multiple factors such as the virus, reverse transcriptase drugs, chronic inflammation, and immune disorders.However, the current clinical research on metabolic-related fatty liver fibrosis in people with HIV is still rather limited.

Chronic liver injury caused by various etiologies can lead to liver fibrosis. Liver fibrosis refers to the imbalance between the synthesis and degradation of extracellular matrix in the liver under the influence of various pathogenic factors (viruses, ethanol, autoimmunity, steatosis). For HIV patients, the causes of liver fibrosis are more complex. Firstly, the impact of HIV infection itself, including chronic inflammation and immune activation caused by HIV.Secondly, the liver toxicity side effects of antiretroviral drugs and the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome that occurs in some patients at the beginning of treatment, causing liver inflammation and fibrosis.Third, combine various liver diseases-induced fibrosis, including metabolic associated fatty liver fibrosis, etc.In HIV patients, early identification of significant liver fibrosis and MASH with fibrosis is of vital importance. APRI and FIB-4 are currently widely used non-invasive methods for assessing the severity of liver fibrosis.However, due to the more complex pathogenesis of liver fibrosis in HIV patients compared to the general population, the accuracy of APRI and FIB-4 in diagnosis may be affected. Recently, the Fibroscan - aspartate aminotransferase (FAST) score was established to identify high-risk patients with significant liver fibrosis (F2-F4) associated with metabolic associated steatohepatitis (MASH). The FAST score was calculated using the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), liver stiffness measurement (LSM), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level. Moreover, the FAST score has been validated in global clinical trials targeting metabolic associated steatohepatitis.However, in HIV-infected individuals, clinical trials targeting metabolic-associated fatty liver fibrosis are still lacking, and there is a lack of prognostic data for patients with HIV combined with MAFLD.

This study employed a retrospectively constructed cohort with prospective longitudinal follow-up. The investigators aim to Investigate the 5-year incidence and progression of hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis in PWH using serial CAP and LSM. Additionally, the investigators intend to integrate this with metabolomics to construct prediction models for MAFLD that are suitable for HIV - infected individuals.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Aged between 18 and 70 years old
2. HIV positive individuls
3. Had abdominal ultrasound and Fibroscan done between December 2019 and April 2020, with available data of LSM and CAP, and had routine follow - up at our hospital's outpatient department from April 2020 to April 2025.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Men with excessive alcohol consumption (more than 210g/week) and women with excessive alcohol consumption (more than 140g/week).
2. Suffering from other liver diseases, such as viral hepatitis, drug-induced liver disease, autoimmune liver disease, decompensated liver cirrhosis, liver malignancy, or having had a liver transplantation.
3. Pregnant women and lactating women.

Clinically diagnosed HIV

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