Fibro-acti test, forn's score, APRI score versus liver biopsy in chronic HCV patients

ABSTRACT

Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus remain a major health problem worldwide. Clinical management of compensated chronic hepatitis C is largely based on assessment of the degree of liver fibrosis. Liver biopsy although is a gold standard for fibrosis staging is an invasive technique. Evaluating a panel of non-invasive markers of liver fibrosis as Fibro-Acti test, APRI score, Forn's score versus liver biopsy. 20 HCV patients were subjected to APRI score, Forn's score, Fibrosure test, and ultrasound guided liver biopsy, with pathological assement using METAVIR score. APRI correlates significantly to the increase in fibrosis stages with correlation coefficient of 0.716 [p = 0.000], also correlates significantly with PCR with correlation coefficient of 0.616 [p = 0.004] and with necroinflammatory changes. Forn's score showed significant correlation with fibrosis stage of 0.416 [p=0.041] and with hepatic pathology for hepatitis activity of 0.725 [p=0.000]. In the present study FT-AT was found to have a greater diagnostic performance than APRI and Forn's score. FT-AT is the only test in which results are reported for prognostic and treatment planning purposes to wave liver biopsy