Hep C Fibrosis - Non-inasive markers
Chronic hepatitis C severe fibrosis diagnosed using non-invasive markers
Hepatitis Weekly - May. 29, 2006
2006 MAY 29 - (NewsRx.com) -- According to a study from Italy, chronic hepatitis C severe fibrosis can be diagnosed using non-invasive markers.
"In chronic hepatitis C, biopsy is the gold standard for assessment of liver fibrosis. Non-invasive markers have been proposed but their use is limited by diagnostic accuracy. Our aim was to increase the diagnostic performance of non-invasive markers of liver fibrosis by combining them in sequential algorithms," wrote G. Sebastiani and colleagues, University of Padua.
"One hundred and ninety patients with chronic hepatitis C were evaluated for AST to platelets ratio (APRI), Forns' index and Fibrotest at the time of liver biopsy and stepwise combination algorithms were developed and validated prospectively in 100 additional patients.
"Three algorithms were developed: (1) significant fibrosis (Fgreater than or equal to2 by METAVIR) was identified with high diagnostic performance (>94% accuracy) using APRI as screening test, followed by Fibrotest in APRI non-classified cases and restricting liver biopsy to patients classified F0-F1 by non-invasive tests. (2) A slightly modified algorithm had similar performance when applied to hepatitis C carriers with normal ALT. (3) Identification of cirrhosis (95% accuracy) was achieved using a dedicated algorithm with different cut-off, reducing by 60-70% the liver biopsies needed," reported the authors.
The researchers concluded, "Stepwise combination of non-invasive markers of liver fibrosis improves the diagnostic performance in chronic hepatitis C. Need for liver biopsy is reduced by 50-70% but cannot be completely avoided."
Sebastiani and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Hepatology (Stepwise combination algorithms of non-invasive markers to diagnose significant fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C. J Hepatol, 2006;44(4):686-693).
For additional information, contact A. Alberti, University of Padua, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, Via Giustiniani, I-35100 Padua, Italy.
Publisher contact information for the Journal of Hepatology is: Elsevier Science BV, PO Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Keywords: Padua, Italy, Chronic Hepatitis C, Hepatitis C Virus, Liver Fibrosis, Non-Invasive Markers, Screening Tests, Stepwise Combination Algorithms, Liver Biopsy, Diagnostics.
This article was prepared by Hepatitis Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2006, Hepatitis Weekly via NewsRx.com.
Hepatitis Weekly - May. 29, 2006
2006 MAY 29 - (NewsRx.com) -- According to a study from Italy, chronic hepatitis C severe fibrosis can be diagnosed using non-invasive markers.
"In chronic hepatitis C, biopsy is the gold standard for assessment of liver fibrosis. Non-invasive markers have been proposed but their use is limited by diagnostic accuracy. Our aim was to increase the diagnostic performance of non-invasive markers of liver fibrosis by combining them in sequential algorithms," wrote G. Sebastiani and colleagues, University of Padua.
"One hundred and ninety patients with chronic hepatitis C were evaluated for AST to platelets ratio (APRI), Forns' index and Fibrotest at the time of liver biopsy and stepwise combination algorithms were developed and validated prospectively in 100 additional patients.
"Three algorithms were developed: (1) significant fibrosis (Fgreater than or equal to2 by METAVIR) was identified with high diagnostic performance (>94% accuracy) using APRI as screening test, followed by Fibrotest in APRI non-classified cases and restricting liver biopsy to patients classified F0-F1 by non-invasive tests. (2) A slightly modified algorithm had similar performance when applied to hepatitis C carriers with normal ALT. (3) Identification of cirrhosis (95% accuracy) was achieved using a dedicated algorithm with different cut-off, reducing by 60-70% the liver biopsies needed," reported the authors.
The researchers concluded, "Stepwise combination of non-invasive markers of liver fibrosis improves the diagnostic performance in chronic hepatitis C. Need for liver biopsy is reduced by 50-70% but cannot be completely avoided."
Sebastiani and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Hepatology (Stepwise combination algorithms of non-invasive markers to diagnose significant fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C. J Hepatol, 2006;44(4):686-693).
For additional information, contact A. Alberti, University of Padua, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, Via Giustiniani, I-35100 Padua, Italy.
Publisher contact information for the Journal of Hepatology is: Elsevier Science BV, PO Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Keywords: Padua, Italy, Chronic Hepatitis C, Hepatitis C Virus, Liver Fibrosis, Non-Invasive Markers, Screening Tests, Stepwise Combination Algorithms, Liver Biopsy, Diagnostics.
This article was prepared by Hepatitis Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2006, Hepatitis Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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