Comparison of Liver Biopsy With Hepascore in Patients With Hepatitis C-Genotype 1



Klantari H¹ ; Hoseini SA¹ ; Yaran M² ; Babak A³
Source: Journal of Isfahan Medical School Published:2011

Abstract

Background: Serum biomarkers can be used as alternative method for liver biopsy in order to assess the level of fibrosis in patients with chronic Hepatitis C. The determination of Hepascore is a noninvasive method to assess the level of fibrosis among patients. This study aims to compare the liver biopsy results with Hepascore among the Genotype 1 Hepatitis C patients in Isfahan. Methods: A sample of 39 patients with chronic Hepatitis C is selected through the simple non-random sampling method for a liver biopsy and Hepascore test. After biopsy, the patients are categorized based on the Metavir scoring system. The Hepascore algorithm is computed based on age, sex, total Billirubin, δ-glutamyl transferase, α2-Macroglobin, Hyaluronic acid. Using the Spearman and ROC test in SPSS15, collected data have been analyzed. Finding: The liver biopsy results showed 6 patients with F0, 12 patients with F1, 10 patients with F2, 3 patients with F3, and 8 patients with F4. The Hepascore value above 0.37 cut off point for detecting significant level of fibrosis has shown 67% sensitivity, 61% specificity, 67% positive predictive value, 61% negative predictive value. For a Hepascore value above 0.66, the results are: 82% sensitivity, 89% specificity, 75% positive predictive, 89% negative predictive value. For a Hepascore value higher than 0.84 for detecting cirrhosis, the results are: 100% sensitivity, 97% specificity, 89% positive predictive, and 100% negative predictive value. Conclusion: This study shows that the Hepascore method is accurate enough to measure the level of fibrosis, particularly cirrhosis. Therefore, it can use for screening of patients that need liver biopsy.