noninvasive index for diagnosing fibrosis and/or cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C

ABSTRACT

Chronic hepatitis C is one of the most prevalent infectious hepatic diseases in our locality. Histological examination of the liver is an integral part of the evaluation of patients with chronic hepatitis C. There are many non invasive approachs to assess the degree of liver fibrosis and/or cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C patients. to construct one simple model consisting of routine laboratory data to predict both significant fibrosis and cirrhosis among patients with chronic hepatitis C. A total of 32 patients with positive hepatitis C virus [HCV] antibodies. All were subjected to thorough clinical evaluation, liver function tests, abdominal ultrasonography and liver biopsy with grading of hepatic fibrosis and steatosis. Platelet count and Aspartate amino transferase [AST] were the most important predictors of significant fibrosis and cirrhosis. The severity of liver fibrosis has correlated significantly with the gradual increase of AST level [P<0.001] as well as the decrease of platelet count [P=0.001]. AST to platelet ratio index [APRI] has correlated significantly with the stage of fibrosis. This index had a higher correlation coefficient than platelet count or AST level alone