Non invasive fibrosis biomarkers reduce but not substitute the need for liver biopsy

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease as a multi-systemic disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease. NAFLD includes a wide spectrum of liver conditions ranging from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and advanced hepatic fibrosis. NAFLD has been recognized as a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome linked with insulin resistance. NAFLD should be considered not only a liver specific disease but also an early mediator of systemic diseases. Therefore, NAFLD is usually associated with cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and dyslipidemia. NAFLD is highly prevalent in the general population and is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The underlying mechanisms and pathogenesis of NAFLD with regard to other medical disorders are not yet fully understood. This review focuses on pathogenesis of NAFLD and its relation with other systemic diseases.

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection: Serum biomarkers in predicting liver damage

Currently, a major clinical challenge in the management of the increasing number of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients is determining the best means for evaluating liver impairment. Prognosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) are partly dependent on the assessment of histological activity, namely cell necrosis and inflammation, and the degree of liver fibrosis. These parameters can be provided by liver biopsy; however, in addition to the risks related to an invasive procedure, liver biopsy has been associated with sampling error mostly due to suboptimal biopsy size. To avoid these pitfalls, several markers have been proposed as non-invasive alternatives for the diagnosis of liver damage. Distinct approaches among the currently available non-invasive methods are (1) the physical ones based on imaging techniques; and (2) the biological ones based on serum biomarkers. In this review, we discuss these approaches with special focus on currently available non-invasive serum markers. We will discuss: (1) class I serum biomarkers individually and as combined panels, particularly those that mirror the metabolism of liver extracellular matrix turnover and/or fibrogenic cell changes; (2) class II biomarkers that are indirect serum markers and are based on the evaluation of common functional alterations in the liver; and (3) biomarkers of liver cell death, since hepatocyte apoptosis plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of HCV infection. We highlight in this review the evidence behind the use of these markers and assess the diagnostic accuracy as well as advantages, limitations, and application in clinical practice of each test for predicting liver damage in CHC.

Four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging in cirrhosis

Since its introduction in the 1970’s, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become a standard imaging modality. With its broad and standardized application, it is firmly established in the clinical routine and an essential element in cardiovascular and abdominal imaging. In addition to sonography and computer tomography, MRI is a valuable tool for diagnosing cardiovascular and abdominal diseases, for determining disease severity, and for assessing therapeutic success. MRI techniques have improved over the last few decades, revealing not just morphologic information, but functional information about perfusion, diffusion and hemodynamics as well. Four-dimensional (4D) flow MRI, a time-resolved phase contrast-MRI with three-dimensional (3D) anatomic coverage and velocity encoding along all three flow directions has been used to comprehensively assess complex cardiovascular hemodynamics in multiple regions of the body. The technique enables visualization of 3D blood flow patterns and retrospective quantification of blood flow parameters in a region of interest. Over the last few years, 4D flow MRI has been increasingly performed in the abdominal region. By applying different acceleration techniques, taking 4D flow MRI measurements has dropped to a reasonable scanning time of 8 to 12 min. These new developments have encouraged a growing number of patient studies in the literature validating the technique’s potential for enhanced evaluation of blood flow parameters within the liver’s complex vascular system. The purpose of this review article is to broaden our understanding of 4D flow MRI for the assessment of liver hemodynamics by providing insights into acquisition, data analysis, visualization and quantification. Furthermore, in this article we highlight its development, focussing on the clinical application of the technique.

Serum β-trophin level as a new marker for noninvasive assessment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis

OBJECTIVE

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic liver disease and evaluation of fibrosis is important. We aimed to investigate the utility of serum β-trophin in NAFLD and its ability to predict liver fibrosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Serum samples of consecutive patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and age-matched and sex-matched healthy controls were used to measure β-trophin using ELISA. Correlations between histopathological features of NAFLD and β-trophin were analyzed. Whereas patients with fibrosis scores less than 2 were grouped in the mild fibrosis group, patients with scores of 2 or more were grouped in the significant fibrosis group. Univariate/multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out to evaluate the independent predicting factors of liver fibrosis. Receiver operating characteristics (ROCs) were assessed to determine the best cut-off values for NAFLD and fibrosis.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine patients with NAFLD and 69 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Serum β-trophin levels were lower in NAFLD patients compared with the controls (2.34±0.06 vs. 1.94±0.09 ng/ml, respectively, P<0.001). In NAFLD, serum β-trophin was related to liver fibrosis and inflammation. The mild fibrosis group had higher serum β-trophin levels than the significant fibrosis group (2.11±0.12 vs. 1.72±0.11, respectively, P<0.001). In multivariate analysis, β-trophin remained an independent predictor of significant fibrosis (odds ratio, 0.237; 95% confidence interval, 0.059-0.949; P<0.001). ROC analysis showed that serum β-trophin was statistically significant in the identification of significant fibrosis (area under receiver operating characteristic, 0.844; 95% confidence interval, 0.718-0.970; P<0.001). The best cut-off value was 1.786, with the best sensitivity (71.43%) and specificity (95.65%).

CONCLUSION

Serum β-trophin may be a potential noninvasive marker for the identification of NAFLD and significant liver fibrosis.

Improvement of liver function and non-invasive fibrosis markers in hepatitis B virus-associated cirrhosis: 2 years of entecavir treatment

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Entecavir (ETV) induces biochemical and histologic improvement of the liver in patients with chronic hepatitis B. This study aimed to confirm that 2 years of ETV treatment improves liver function and non-invasive fibrosis markers in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated cirrhosis.

METHODS

A total 472 naïve patients with HBV-associated cirrhosis was treated with ETV for at least 2 years, between March 2007 and December 2012. Model for end-stage liver disease and Child-Pugh (CP) score were used to evaluate the improvement of liver function. Aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index, FIB-4 index, and fibrosis index were used to evaluate the improvement of fibrosis.

RESULTS

The final 370 of 472 patients with HBV-associated cirrhosis were enrolled. Mean age was 51 ± 10 years, and 240 patients (64.9%) were men. The distribution of CP class was 71.1% in A, 24.6% in B, and 4.3% in C. Mean end-stage liver disease and CP score changed over the study period from 8.5 ± 4.6 to 6.2 ± 4.2 (P < 0.001) and from 6.2 ± 1.6 to 5.6 ± 0.9 (P < 0.001), respectively. Aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index, FIB-4 index, and fibrosis index changed from 3.6 ± 4.5 to 1.5 ± 1.5 (P < 0.001), from 7.0 ± 6.2 to 3.9 ± 2.8 (P < 0.001), and from 3.3 ± 0.9 to 2.5 ± 1.1 (P < 0.001), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

After 2 years of treatment, ETV improves liver function and non-invasive fibrosis markers in patients with HBV-associated cirrhosis.

Non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis in chronic viral hepatitis

BACKGROUND

Hyaluronic acid (HA), ASAT to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI), ASAT/ALAT ratio, Fibrosis 4 score (FIB4) and FibroScan were studied as non-invasive markers of liver fibrosis (F) in chronic viral hepatitis B (CHB) and C (CHC), in an attempt to avoid the complications of liver puncture biopsy, considered the gold standard in the evaluation of F. The aim of our research was to study whether HA, APRI, ASAT/ALAT ratio, FIB4 and FibroScan are useful non-invasive markers in predicting severe F in Romanian patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a prospective multicenter transversal and observational study, which included 76 patients with CHB/CHC. The independent effect of studied markers was tested using multiple binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

In patients with CHB and CHC, the APRI cut-off value for F4 was 0·70 ng/mL (Se = 77%, Sp = 78%), the FIB4 cut-off value was 2·01 (Se = 77%, Sp = 69%), and the FibroScan cut-off value was 13·15 (Se = 92%, Sp = 88%). For patients with CHB/CHC, there was a significant linear positive correlation between F and HA (r = 0·42, P = 0·001), FibroScan (r = 0·67, P < 0·001), APRI (r = 0·46, P < 0·001) and FIB4 (r = 0·51, P < 0·001). Considering age, sex and body mass index as possible confounding factors or covariates in multivariable logistic modelling, FibroScan was the unique test that able to significantly highlight the presence of F4 score in CHB/CHC patients (P = 0·009) while FIB4 test seems to have a tendency to statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

FibroScan, APRI and FIB4 are useful non-invasive tests for the evaluation of F4 in patients with CHB and CHC.

Comparative diagnostic accuracy of red cell distribution width-to-platelet ratio versus noninvasive fibrosis scores for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in biopsy-proven nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

OBJECTIVE

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease and assessment of liver fibrosis is important. We aimed to investigate the performance of red cell volume distribution width-to-platelet ratio (RPR) in predicting liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD and to compare it with well-known noninvasive predicting fibrosis scores (alanine aminotransferase ratio, aspartate aminotransferase platelet ratio index, fibrosis index, fibrosis 4, and fibrosis, cirrhosis index).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Serum samples of consecutive biopsy-proven NAFLD patients were used to calculate the RPR index. Fibrosis stages were evaluated using the Brunt Criteria. Area under receiver operating characteristics curve was used to calculate predicting performance and compare with other noninvasive fibrosis scores.

RESULTS

One hundred and twenty-three consecutive patients with biopsy-confirmed NAFLD were recruited; 54 patients (43.9%) were women. The median age of the patients was 49 years. Fibrosis scores were F0-1, F2, F3, and F4 in 79 (64.2%), 27 (22%), 11 (8.9%), and 6 (4.9%) patients, respectively. The median RPR increased as the fibrosis scores progressed: F0, 0.0524; F1, 0.0534; F2, 0.0606; F3, 0.0815; and F4 0.2022. Area under receiver operating characteristics curve of the RPR was 0.69 in predicting significant fibrosis (≥ F2), 0.81 in advanced fibrosis (≥ F3), and 0.85 in F4, and all were statistically significant (P<0.001). Comparisons with other noninvasive fibrosis scores were not statistically significant (P>0.05). RPR was correlated with fibrosis r: 0.37, 95% confidence interval: (0.21-0.52), P<0.001. RPR was an independent predicting factor for identifying both significant and advanced fibrosis in regression analysis (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

RPR was both correlated and able to predict liver fibrosis and may be suggested to reduce liver biopsy in NAFLD.

Online combination algorithm for non-invasive assessment of chronic hepatitis B related liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in resource-limited settings

OBJECTIVE

The use of commercially available noninvasive markers for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) related fibrosis is not widely available in developing countries so clinicians in those countries frequently use free alternatives. We aimed to create an optimized algorithm for selection of patients with the highest probability for presence/absence of significant liver fibrosis and cirrhosis based on the use of multiple free scores.

METHODS

We evaluated six free noninvasive markers for CHB related fibrosis against liver biopsy and selected the best thresholds for prediction/exclusion of significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in CHB patients. Algorithm based on four scores and their corresponding thresholds was created.

RESULTS

The calculator based on developed algorithm can be found at http://www.chb-lfc.com. We evaluated 211 patients in main group and 65 patients in external validation group. We selected four scores for creation of combination algorithm. The algorithm was able to classify 123/211 (58.3%) patients with a 93.5% accuracy of correct classification for prediction of presence/absence of significant fibrosis in main group. In validation group, the algorithm was able to classify 48/65 (73.8%) of patients with 93.8% (45/48) overall accuracy. When used to predict presence/absence of cirrhosis, the algorithm was able to correctly classify 181/211 (85.8%) and 59/65 (90.8%) of patients in main and validation group, respectively, with an overall accuracy of 97.8% and 98.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Developed algorithm based on routine laboratory tests is a usable, applicable and accurate tool for diagnosis of CHB related fibrosis and cirrhosis, suitable for resource-limited settings where more expensive modalities are unavailable.

Liver and spleen stiffness and other noninvasive methods to assess portal hypertension in cirrhotic patients: a review of the literature

Portal hypertension (PH) is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic liver disease. PH measurement is crucial to stage and predict the clinical outcome of liver cirrhosis. Measurement of hepatic vein pressure gradient is considered the gold standard for assessment of the degree of PH; however, it is an invasive method and has not been used widely. Thus, noninvasive methods have been proposed recently. We critically evaluated serum markers, abdominal ultrasonography, and particularly liver and spleen stiffness measurement, which represent the more promising methods to stage PH degree and to assess the presence/absence of esophageal varices (EV). A literature search was carried out on MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus for articles and abstracts. The search terms used included 'liver cirrhosis', 'portal hypertension', 'liver stiffness', 'spleen stiffness', 'ultrasonography', and 'portal hypertension serum biomarker'. The articles cited were selected on the basis of their relevance to the objective of the review. The results of available studies indicate that individually, these methods have a mild accuracy in predicting the presence of EV, and thus they cannot substitute endoscopy to predict EV. When these tests were used in combination, their accuracy increased. In addition to the PH staging, several serum markers and spleen stiffness measurement can predict the clinical outcome of liver cirrhosis with a good accuracy, comparable to that of hepatic vein pressure gradient. In the future, noninvasive methods could be used to select patients requiring further investigations to identify the best tailored clinical management.

Primary biliary cirrhosis: Clinical and laboratory criteria for its diagnosis

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic progressive cholestatic granulomatous, and destructive inflammatory lesion of small intralobular and septal bile ducts, which is likely to be caused by an autoimmune mechanism with a the presence of serum antimitochondrial antibodies and a potential tendency to progress to cirrhosis. Despite the fact that the etiology of this disease has been unknown so far, there has been a considerable body of scientific evidence that can reveal the clinical and laboratory signs of PBC and the individual components of its pathogenesis and elaborate diagnostic criteria for the disease and its symptomatic therapy. Deficiencies in autoimmune tolerance are critical factors for the initiation and perpetuation of the disease. The purpose of this review is to summarize the data available in the literature and the author’s findings on clinical and laboratory criteria for the diagnosis of PBC. This review describes the major clinical manifestations of the disease and the mechanisms of its development. It presents the immunological, biochemical, and morphological signs of PBC and their significance for its diagnosis. A great deal of novel scientific evidence for the problem of PBC has been accumulated. However, the inadequate efficiency of therapy for the disease lends impetus to the quest for its etiological factors and to further investigations of its pathogenetic mechanisms and, on this basis, to searches for new methods for its early diagnosis.

Role of serum toll-like receptors 2 and 4 in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a common cause of chronic liver disease, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Our aim was to investigate whether serum toll-like receptors 2 and 4 (TLR2 and TLR4) levels are correlated with NASH and able to predict liver fibrosis, as well as to compare these markers with other non-invasive fibrosis scores (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] to alanine aminotransferase ratio, AST to platelet ratio index, fibrosis index, fibrosis 4, and fibrosis cirrhosis index).

METHODS

Serum samples were obtained from consecutive biopsy proven NASH patients and healthy controls. Serum TLR2 and TLR4 were measured using ELISA. Stage of fibrosis was evaluated using the Brunt Criteria. The different non-invasive fibrosis scores were compared using areas under the curve.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven patients with NASH and 57 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. Serum TLR2 levels were not significantly different between the healthy controls and NASH patients. The medians were 3.88 ng/mL ± 0.29 versus 3.81 ng/mL ± 0.32, respectively (P = 0.587). In comparing the levels of TLR4 between groups, the medians were 1.05 ng/mL ± 0.13 versus 1.46 ng/mL ± 0.27, respectively (P < 0.001). In NASH patients, the levels of serum TLR4 increased with the stage of fibrosis: TLR4 medians were F0:1.01, F1:1.46, F2:2.14, F3:3.74, F4:5.83 (P < 0.001). TLR4 produced AUCs for ≥ F1, ≥ F2, and ≥ F3 of 0.862, 0.810, and 0.905, respectively (P < 0.001). TLR4 levels were more predictive than other non-invasive fibrosis scores in liver fibrosis.

CONCLUSION

Serum TLR4 levels but not TLR2 were elevated in NASH patients in comparison with healthy controls. And in NASH patients, serum TLR4 levels both correlated with and were able to predict liver fibrosis.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme for noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis in autoimmune hepatitis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

There are no validated noninvasive markers of liver fibrosis in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). An activated renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and its key element angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrogenesis. We aimed to study the assumed role of activated RAS in the fibrogenic process and whether the serum concentration of ACE can predict different fibrosis stages in AIH.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Serum samples of 73 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with AIH were analysed for ACE concentration. All patients underwent a liver biopsy.

RESULTS

Serum ACE levels increased significantly for each fibrosis score. The median ACE was 45 U/l in patients with fibrosis score I, 54 U/l in patients with fibrosis score II, 68 U/l in patients with fibrosis score III and 87 U/l in patients with fibrosis score IV. For significant fibrosis (≤F2), a 56 U/l cut-off value of ACE had 95.5% sensitivity and 74.5% specificity, and receiver-operating characteristic curves showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.89. For advanced fibrosis (≤F3), a 64 U/l cut-off level of ACE had 85.2% sensitivity and 94.8% specificity, and AUC was 0.91. For cirrhosis, a 68 U/l cut-off level of ACE had 100% sensitivity and 84.4% specificity, and AUC was 0.95.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that activated RAS may sustain hepatic fibrogenesis in AIH. Measurement of serum ACE offers an easy, accurate and inexpensive noninvasive method that differentiates significant from nonsignificant liver fibrosis in AIH. Blockade of RAS may exert beneficial effects on fibrosis progression in AIH.

Hepatic ADC map as an adjunct to conventional abdominal MRI to evaluate hepatic fibrotic and clinical cirrhotic severity in biliary atresia patients

OBJECTIVES

Hepatic apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and ADC-related indices were correlated with the Mayo risk score for primary biliary cirrhosis (MRSPBC) and METAVIR scores of liver specimens to determine the clinical and pathological significance of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWMRI).

METHODS

Thirty-two patients with biliary atresia (BA; mean age 461 days, range 11-4616 days) received magnetic resonance examinations from March 2009 to August 2013. A free-breathing DWMRI sequence was performed with the single-shot echo-planar imaging technique with b = 0 and 500 s/mm(2) in all 32 BA patients and 24 controls. We used the ordinal logistic regression test and Spearman rank correlation test to analyse the relationships between the MRSPBC and METAVIR fibrosis scores and right liver-to-psoas ADC ratios (LTPARs).

RESULTS

BA patients had significantly lower LTPARs in both hepatic lobes than controls (p < 0.01). Right LTPARs, showing moderate intraobserver agreement (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.736) and interobserver reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.659), were negatively correlated with MRSPBC and METAVIR fibrosis scores (R(2) = 0.398, p = 0.024 and R(2) = 0.628, p < 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Right LTPARs may be used for long-term follow-up of cirrhosis severity in BA patients.

KEY POINTS

• Hepatic ADC values by DWI correlates well with clinical/pathologic fibrosis scores • Periodic, non-invasive, quantitative imaging follow-up of patients with biliary cirrhosis is feasible • Information on cirrhosis severity could help decide on management options in children with BA • ADC values may be useful in this regard.

Diagnostic performance of collagen IV and laminin for the prediction of fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C patients: a multicenter study

BACKGROUND/AIM

To date, liver biopsy has been the gold standard used for the assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Our aim was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a panel of simple blood markers of liver fibrosis and the development a novel score to replace liver biopsy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Liver biochemical profile including transaminases, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and albumin, in addition to platelet count, was evaluated using standard methods in 305 chronic hepatitis C patients. Serum type IV collagen and laminin were assayed using the ELISA technique. Liver biopsies were performed. Statistical analyses were carried out by logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curves to assess and compare the diagnostic accuracy of blood markers. A stepwise combination algorithm was developed and validated in 317 additional patients.

RESULTS

The Fibrosis Discriminant Score (FDS) was developed combining collagen, laminin, aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index, and albumin. FDS produced an area under receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.831 for significant fibrosis, 0.791 for advanced fibrosis, and 0.881 for cirrhosis. The FDS was correctly classified in 82% of patients with significant fibrosis with 79% sensitivity and 88% specificity at cut-off 0.66 or more. Similar results were obtained in a validation study in which, of 317 patients, liver biopsy could have been avoided in 81%.

CONCLUSION

A simple fibrosis index can be useful to select hepatitis C virus-infected patients with a very low risk of significant fibrosis in whom the protocol of liver biopsies may be avoided.

Comparison of liver biopsy and noninvasive techniques for liver fibrosis assessment in patients infected with HCV-genotype 4 in Egypt

In Egypt, as elsewhere, liver biopsy (LB) remains the gold standard to assess liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and is required to decide whether a treatment should be proposed. Many of its disadvantages have led to develop noninvasive methods to replace LB. These new methods should be evaluated in Egypt, where circulating virus genotype 4 (G4), increased body mass index and co-infection with schistosomiasis may interfere with liver fibrosis assessment. Egyptian CHC-infected patients with G4 underwent a LB, an elastometry measurement (Fibroscan(©)), and serum markers (APRI, Fib4 and Fibrotest(©)). Patients had to have a LB ≥15 mm length or ≥10 portal tracts with two pathologists blinded readings to be included in the analysis. Patients with hepatitis B virus co-infection were excluded. Three hundred and twelve patients are reported. The performance of each technique for distinguishing F0F1 vs F2F3F4 was compared. The area under receiver operating characteristic curves was 0.70, 0.76, 0.71 and 0.75 for APRI, Fib-4, Fibrotest© and Fibroscan©, respectively (no influence of schistosomiasis was noticed). An algorithm using the Fib4 for identifying patients with F2 stage or more reduced by nearly 90% the number of liver biopsies. Our results demonstrated that noninvasive techniques were feasible in Egypt, for CHC G4-infected patients. Because of its validity and its easiness to perform, we believe that Fib4 may be used to assess the F2 threshold, which decides whether treatment should be proposed or delayed.

Non-invasive serum fibrosis markers: A study in chronic hepatitis

INTRODUCTION

Chronic hepatitis is specified as inflammatory disease of the liver lasting for more than six months. Role of noninvasive fibrosis markers as prognostication factors of the presence or absence of significant fibrosis on liver biopsy of patients with chronic hepatitis is the aim of this study.

METHODS

Two hundred twenty-one patients with chronic hepatitis involved in the study between 2011 and 2013. Routine biochemical indices and serum fibrosis markers such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio (AAR), AST to platelet ratio index (APRI) and Fibrosis 4 score (FIB-4) were evaluated, and the histological grade and stage of the liver biopsy specimens were scored according to the Ishak scoring system. Diagnostic accuracies of these markers for prediction of significant fibrosis were assessed by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

RESULTS

Contemporaneous laboratory indices for imputing AAR, APRI, and FIB-4 were identified with liver biopsies. From all, 135 males (61.1%) and 86 females (38.9%), with mean age of 39.6±14.4 were studied. Significant correlation between stages of fibrosis and FIB-4, APRI and AAR were detected, with a correlation coefficient higher than that of other markers in the patients with Hepatitis B (r = 0.46), C (r = 0.58) and autoimmune hepatitis (r = 0.28). FIB-4 (AUROC = 0.84) and APRI (AUROC = 0.78) were superior to AAR at distinguishing severe fibrosis from mild-to-moderate fibrosis and gave the highest diagnostic accuracy.

CONCLUSION

Application of these markers was good at distinguishing significant fibrosis and decreased the need for staging liver biopsy specimens among patients with chronic hepatitis.

Limited reliability of five non-invasive biomarkers in predicting hepatic fibrosis in chronic HCV mono-infected patients opposed to METAVIR scoring

BACKGROUND

Liver biopsy is gold standard for fibrosis assessment in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection but its limitations led to the identification of non-invasive biomarkers. This study assesses the reliability of five biomarkers in estimating the stage of liver fibrosis/cirrhosis in chronic HCV patients versus METAVIR scoring.

METHODS

One hundred HCV monoinfected patients who underwent liver biopsy and blood sampling were included. Liver fibrosis was staged (F0-4) and required laboratory tests were performed. AAR, API, APRI, FIB-4 and Pohl score were calculated and their receiver operating curves (ROCs), sensitivities, specificities, predictive values and accuracies were evaluated.

RESULTS

There were 27, 44, and 29 patients at F0-F1, F2-F3, and F4 groups. Significant statistical differences were found regarding AST, vireamia, platelet count, prothrombin time and all biomarkers. From ROCs only Pohl score predicted significant fibrosis and cirrhosis but with low accuracy. AAR, API and APRI showed moderate performance at low cut-offs, but had limited predictive values or accuracies at higher cut-offs. FIB-4 was the least accurate test. The diagnostic reliability of these biomarkers was limited to patients with suspected insignificant fibrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

This study verified the limited reliability for AAR, API, APRI, FIB-4 and Pohl score in estimating the stage of hepatic fibrosis in HCV infected patients opposed to METAVIR scoring.

[Biomarkers for liver fibrosis: advances, advantages and disadvantages]

Liver cirrhosis in Mexico is one of the most important causes of death in persons between the ages of 25 and 50 years. One of the reasons for therapeutic failure is the lack of knowledge about the molecular mechanisms that cause liver disorder and make it irreversible. One of its prevalent anatomical characteristics is an excessive deposition of fibrous tissue that takes different forms depending on etiology and disease stage. Liver biopsy, traditionally regarded as the gold standard of fibrosis staging, has been brought into question over the past decade, resulting in the proposal for developing non-invasive technologies based on different, but complementary, approaches: a biological one that takes the serum levels of products arising from the fibrosis into account, and a more physical one that evaluates scarring of the liver by methods such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance elastography; some of the methods were originally studied and validated in patients with hepatitis C. There is great interest in determining non-invasive markers for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis, since at present there is no panel or parameter efficient and reliable enough for diagnostic use. In this paper, we describe the biomarkers that are currently being used for studying liver fibrosis in humans, their advantages and disadvantages, as well as the implementation of new-generation technologies and the evaluation of their possible use in the diagnosis of fibrosis.

Clinical Application of Transient Elastography in the Diagnosis of Liver Fibrosis: an Expert Panel Review and Opinion

Liver fibrosis evaluation is pivotal for treatment decisions and prognosis assessment in patients with chronic liver disease. Liver transient elastography (TE) is a newly developed non-invasive technique for diagnosis of liver fibrosis. It can assess the state of liver fibrosis by liver stiffness measurements, and offers better performance for the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis than serum biological markers. It has now been approved for clinical use in China. The aim of this review is to provide a guide for clinicians to apply this technique appropriately. The recommendations are made under the auspices of China Foundation for Hepatitis Prevention and Control, and have been prepared by a panel experts, who have reviewed and summarized the clinical studies on TE in order to develop these recommendations.

FibroTest/Fibrosure for significant liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Extent of liver fibrosis is one of the most important factors in determining prognosis and the need for active treatment in chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Noninvasive alternatives such as FibroTest/Fibrosure (FT) have been developed in order to overcome the shortcomings of liver biopsy (LB). We aimed to systematically review studies describing the diagnostic accuracy of FT for predicting CHB-related fibrosis.

METHODS

MEDLINE and EMBASE searches and hand searching methods were performed to identify studies that assessed the diagnostic accuracy of FibroTest in HB patients using LB as a reference standard. We used a hierarchical summary receiver operating curves model and the bivariate model to produce summary receiver operating characteristic curves and pooled estimates of sensitivity and specificity.

RESULTS

We included 16 studies (N=2494) and 13 studies (N=1754) in the heterogenous meta-analysis for liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, respectively. The area under the hierarchical summary receiver operating curve for significant liver fibrosis and for all included studies was 0.84 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.78-0.88). At the FT threshold of 0.48, the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of FT for significant fibrosis were 61 (48-72%), 80 (72-86%), and 6.2% (3.3-11.9), respectively. The area under the hierarchical summary receiver operating curve for liver cirrhosis and for all included studies was 0.87 (95% CI: 0.85-0.90). At the FT threshold of 0.74, the sensitivity, specificity, and DOR of FT for cirrhosis were 62 (47-75%), 91 (88-93%), and 15.7% (8.6-28.8), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

FibroTest is of value in exclusion of patients with CHB-related cirrhosis, but has suboptimal accuracy in the detection of significant fibrosis and cirrhosis. It is necessary to further improve the test or combine it with other noninvasive modalities in order to improve accuracy.

Noninvasive Biomarkers of Liver Fibrosis: An Overview

Chronic liver diseases of differing etiologies are among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Establishing accurate staging of liver disease is very important for enabling both therapeutic decisions and prognostic evaluations. A liver biopsy is considered the gold standard for assessing the stage of hepatic fibrosis, but it has many limitations. During the last decade, several noninvasive markers for assessing the stage of hepatic fibrosis have been developed. Some have been well validated and are comparable to liver biopsy. This paper will focus on the various noninvasive biochemical markers used to stage liver fibrosis.

The diagnostic accuracy of the Forns index, platelet count and AST to Platelet Ratio Index derived fibrosis index for the prediction of Hepatitis C virus-related significant liver fibrosis and cirrhosis

AIM

To provide a simple fibrosis index combining the routine laboratory markers for predicting significant fibrosis (SF) and cirrhosis in patients with chronic HCV.

METHODS

Platelet count, ALT, AST, AST to ALT Ratio, AST to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI), Forns index, FIB-4 and Age Platelet Index of 202 liver biopsy performed HCV-infected patients were reviewed. METAVIR classification was used to determine the stage of liver fibrosis. The predictive fibrosis index was constructed by multiple linear regression analysis (- 2.948 + 0.562 × Forns index + 0.288 × APRI + 0.006 × platelet count [10(9)/L]).

RESULTS

Median (25th-75th interquartile range) age was 52 (42-59) years, and 61% were male. 65.8% (n = 133) had SF (F2-F4) and 23.3% (n = 47) had cirrhosis (F4). For discrimination of SF, AUROCs were: Fibrosis index = 0.869, Forns index = 0.837, APRI = 0.814, platelet count = 0.764. For cirrhosis, AUROCs were: Fibrosis index = 0.911, Forns index = 0.883, APRI = 0.847, platelet count = 0.827. A cut-off point of ≤ 1.2 for fibrosis index excluded SF in 89% of patients with sensitivity of 96%, while > 2.0 predicted SF in 88% of patients with specificity of 86%. Threshold of ≤ 1.9 excluded cirrhosis in 95% of patients with sensitivity of 94%, while > 2.7 showed cirrhosis in 88% of patients with specificity of 95%. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, OR (95% CI) of fibrosis index was 7.825 (3.682-16.629) for SF (p < 0.001) and was 8.672 (4.179-17.996) for cirrhosis (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

SF and cirrhosis were predicted with accuracy of 82% and 89% and were excluded with accuracy of 74% and 82% using this fibrosis index which may potentially decrease the need for liver biopsy in 76% and 83% of patients, respectively.

Principles and clinical application of ultrasound elastography for diffuse liver disease

Accurate assessment of the degree of liver fibrosis is important for estimating prognosis and deciding on an appropriate course of treatment for cases of chronic liver disease (CLD) with various etiologies. Because of the inherent limitations of liver biopsy, there is a great need for non-invasive and reliable tests that accurately estimate the degree of liver fibrosis. Ultrasound (US) elastography is considered a non-invasive, convenient, and precise technique to grade the degree of liver fibrosis by measuring liver stiffness. There are several commercial types of US elastography currently in use, namely, transient elastography, acoustic radiation force impulse imaging, supersonic shear-wave imaging, and real-time tissue elastography. Although the low reproducibility of measurements derived from operator-dependent performance remains a significant limitation of US elastography, this technique is nevertheless useful for diagnosing hepatic fibrosis in patients with CLD. Likewise, US elastography may also be used as a convenient surveillance method that can be performed by physicians at the patients' bedside to enable the estimation of the prognosis of patients with fatal complications related to CLD in a non-invasive manner.

Von Willebrand Factor as a new marker for non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C

BACKGROUND

Staging of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is recommended prior to anti-viral therapy. As vWF-Ag was shown as a predictor of portal hypertension, decompensation and mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis, we performed this study to investigate if vWF-Ag is able to predict different fibrosis stages and if it is comparable to other fibrosis scores.

AIM

To investigate if vWF-Ag is able to predict different fibrosis stages and if it is comparable to other fibrosis scores.

METHODS

We analysed 294 patients with chronic hepatitis C who underwent biopsy. We assessed stage of liver fibrosis according to Metavir, measured vWF-Ag and calculated different fibrosis scores (APRI, FCI, FORNS, FI, Fib-4) and compared them by AUCs. We also calculated a new score: vWF-Ag/thrombocytes (VITRO score) for prediction of fibrosis.

RESULTS

vWF-Ag levels were increasing with stage of fibrosis: F0: vWF-Ag was median 136.5%, FI 140.6%, FII 157.5%, FIII 171.0%, FIV 252.0%; P < 0.001. vWF-Ag and VITRO score produced AUCs of 0.7 and 0.72 for ≥F2, comparable to the AUCs of APRI, Fib-4, FORNS with 0.75, 0.65 and 0.64 (P > 0.05). For ≥F3 AUCs were 0.79 and 0.86 for vWF-Ag and VITRO score, comparable with AUCs of 0.79, 0.86 and 0.87 for APRI, Fib-4 and FORNS. Cirrhosis shows AUCs of 0.84 and 0.89 for vWF-Ag and VITRO score, APRI, Fib-4 and FORNS showed similar results with AUCs of 0.82, 0.88 and 0.87.

CONCLUSIONS

vWF-Ag and VITRO score offer an easy possibility to evaluate the stage of fibrosis to diagnose subclinical cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Both vWF-Ag and VITRO score show equal performance in comparison to other fibrosis scores assessed in our study.

Non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B

In patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), liver fibrosis assessment is essential not only for determining prognosis but also for identifying patients who should receive treatment. Liver biopsy is limited by its invasiveness and sampling error. To explore effective non-invasive methods for liver fibrosis assessment, we reviewed international literature published over the past decade that focused on patients with CHB. Biomarker panels such as API, FIB-4, Forns Index, HepaScore, FibroMeter, FibroTest, Zeng Index and Hui Index detect advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis with fairly satisfactory accuracy with area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve higher than 0.85. However, most panels and the suggested cutoffs have not been independently validated. Transient elastography is accurate in detecting advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis, and the relative cutoffs have been defined. False-positive results may, however, occur in cases of active necroinflammation and cholestasis. Other promising imaging methods such as acoustic radiation force impulse and magnetic resonance elastography still require further validating studies. We conclude that transient elastography, FibroTest and API are the most widely validated. Transient elastography has been validated as the most useful non-invasive method for liver fibrosis assessment. To improve non-invasive performance of detecting liver fibrosis, a combined application of transient elastography and biomarkers may be the preferred course of action.

Noninvasive diagnosis of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C patients

BACKGROUND

We aimed to derive a simple noninvasive test for liver-fibrosis staging and then estimate its performance against four simple noninvasive tests in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients.

METHODS

CHC patients were divided into two cohorts: an estimation set (n = 324) and a validation set (n = 524). Liver fibrosis was staged according to the METAVIR scoring system. Statistical analysis was done using stepwise linear discriminant analysis and area under receiver-operating characteristic curves (AUCs).

RESULTS

Biotechnology Research Center (BRC) score was constructed combining several blood markers that proved useful to stage liver fibrosis. Aspartate aminotransferase /alanine aminotransferase ratio (AAR), aspartate to platelet ratio index (APRI), Fibro-α, King, and BRC scores correlated with the histological fibrosis stages with correlation coefficient 0.26, 0.36, 0.58, 0.45, and 0.73, respectively. BRC score produced AUCs 0.87, 0.83, and 0.89 for significant (F2-F4), advanced fibrosis (F3-F4), and cirrhosis (F4), respectively. These results were reproduced in the validation study with no significant difference yielding AUCs 0.85 for F2-F4, 0.82 for F3-F4, and 0.88 for F4.

CONCLUSION

BRC score, a novel noninvasive test, is a useful and easy tool to evaluate liver fibrosis in CHC patients and seems more efficient than AAR, APRI, Fibro-α score, and King's score in this group of Egyptian patients.

Serum apoptosis markers related to liver damage in chronic hepatitis C: sFas as a marker of advanced fibrosis in children and adults while M30 of severe steatosis only in children

Background

Liver biopsy represents the gold standard for evaluating damage and progression in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC); however, developing noninvasive tests that can predict liver injury represents a growing medical need. Considering that hepatocyte apoptosis plays a role in CHC pathogenesis; the aim of our study was to evaluate the presence of different apoptosis markers that correlate with liver injury in a cohort of pediatric and adult patients with CHC.

Methods

Liver biopsies and concomitant serum samples from 22 pediatric and 22 adult patients with CHC were analyzed. Histological parameters were evaluated. In serum samples soluble Fas (sFas), caspase activity and caspase-generated neoepitope of the CK-18 proteolytic fragment (M30) were measured.

Results

sFas was associated with fibrosis severity in pediatric (significant fibrosis p = 0.03, advanced fibrosis p = 0.01) and adult patients (advanced fibrosis p = 0.02). M30 levels were elevated in pediatric patients with severe steatosis (p = 0.01) while in adults no relation with any histological variable was observed. Caspase activity levels were higher in pediatric samples with significant fibrosis (p = 0.03) and they were associated with hepatitis severity (p = 0.04) in adult patients. The diagnostic accuracy evaluation demonstrated only a good performance for sFas to evaluate advanced fibrosis both in children (AUROC: 0.812) and adults (AUROC: 0.800) as well as for M30 to determine steatosis severity in children (AUROC: 0.833).

Conclusions

Serum sFas could be considered a possible marker of advanced fibrosis both in pediatric and adult patient with CHC as well as M30 might be a good predictor of steatosis severity in children.

Adiponectin: a key playmaker adipocytokine in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome and can progress to cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. In the last two decades, the prevalence of NAFLD has been growing in most developed countries, mainly as a consequence of its close association with obesity and diabetes mellitus. The exact pathogenesis of NAFLD and especially the mechanisms leading to disease progression have not been completely understood. Adipocytes produce and secrete several bioactive substances known as adipocytokines which are implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease. Among them, adiponectin is an insulin-sensitizing adipocytokine possessing multiple beneficial effects on obesity-related medical complication. This review focuses on the role of adiponectin in NAFLD pathogenesis and its potential use as a diagnostic tool but also as therapeutic target for NAFLD management.

Markers in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common liver disorder worldwide, encompasses a spectrum of abnormal liver histology ranging from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis. Population studies show that NAFLD is strongly associated with insulin resistance, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and lipid abnormalities. In the context of hepatic steatosis, factors that promote cell injury, inflammation, and fibrosis include oxidative stress, early mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, iron accumulation, apoptosis, adipocytokines, and stellate cell activation. The exact NASH prevalence is unknown because of the absence of simple noninvasive diagnostic tests. Although liver biopsy is the "gold standard" for the diagnosis of NASH, other tests are needed to facilitate the diagnosis and greatly reduce the requirement for invasive liver biopsy. In addition, the development of new fibrosis markers in NASH is needed to facilitate the assessment of its progression and the effectiveness of new therapies. The aim of this chapter, which is overview of biomarkers in NASH, is to establish a systematic approach to laboratory findings of the disease.

Biopsy-controlled liver fibrosis staging using the enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) score compared to transient elastography

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Chronic liver diseases are characterized by inflammatory and fibrotic liver injuries that often result in liver cirrhosis with its associated complications such as portal hypertension and hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver biopsy still represents the reference standard for fibrosis staging, although transient elastography is increasingly used for non-invasive monitoring of fibrosis progression. However, this method is not generally available and is associated with technical limitations emphasizing the need for serological biomarkers staging of liver fibrosis. The enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) score was shown to accurately predict significant liver fibrosis in different liver diseases, although extracellular matrix components detected by this score may not only mirror the extent of liver fibrosis but also inflammatory processes.

METHODS

In this prospective biopsy-controlled study we evaluated the utility of the ELF score in comparison to transient elastography to predict different stages of fibrosis in 102 patients with chronic liver diseases.

RESULTS

Both techniques revealed similar area under receiver operating characteristic curve values for prediction of advanced fibrosis stages. Compared to transient elastography, the ELF score showed a broader overlap between low and moderate fibrosis stages and a stronger correlation with inflammatory liver injury.

CONCLUSIONS

Both the ELF score as well as transient elastography allowed for high quality fibrosis staging. However, the ELF score was less discriminative in low and moderate fibrosis stages and appeared more strongly influenced by inflammatory liver injury. This should be considered when making clinical interpretations on the basis of ELF score values.

Checkmate to liver biopsy in chronic hepatitis C?

Liver biopsy (LB) has traditionally been considered the gold standard for pretreatment evaluation of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). However, LB is an invasive procedure with several shortcomings (intra- and interobserver variability of histopathological interpretation, sampling errors, high cost) and the risk of rare but potentially life-threatening complications. In addition, LB is poorly accepted by patients and it is not suitable for repeated evaluation. Furthermore, the prevalence of CHC makes LB unrealistic to be performed in all patients with this disease who are candidates for antiviral therapy. The above-mentioned drawbacks of LB have led to the development of noninvasive methods for the assessment of liver fibrosis. Several noninvasive methods, ranging from serum marker assays to advanced imaging techniques, have proved to be excellent tools for the evaluation of liver fibrosis in patients with CHC, whereas the value of LB as a gold standard for staging fibrosis prior to antiviral therapy has become questionable for clinicians. Despite significant resistance from those in favor of LB, noninvasive methods for pretreatment assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with CHC have become part of routine clinical practice. With protease inhibitors-based triple therapy already available and substantial improvement in sustained virological response, the time has come to move forward to noninvasiveness, with no risks for the patient and, thus, no need for LB in the assessment of liver fibrosis in the decision making for antiviral therapy in CHC.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: an emerging liver disease in Taiwan

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disorder in Western countries, and has become increasingly recognized as a public health problem in Taiwan. Patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, a more severe form of NAFLD, may progress to cirrhosis and its related complications, including hepatocellular carcinoma. Since NAFLD is highly linked to metabolic syndrome, such patients may have increased risks of complications related to both liver disease and metabolic syndrome. Therefore, if we fail to cope with this growing health problem, NAFLD may gradually replace viral hepatitis as the major etiology of liver disease in Taiwan.

Molecular serum markers of liver fibrosis

Fibrosis is a hallmark histologic event of chronic liver diseases and is characterized by the excessive accumulation and reorganization of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The gold standard for assessment of fibrosis is liver biopsy. As this procedure has various limitations, including risk of patient injury and sampling error, a non-invasive serum marker for liver fibrosis is desirable. The increasing understanding of the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis has suggested several markers which could be useful indicators of hepatic fibrogenesis and fibrosis. These markers include serum markers of liver function, ECM synthesis, fibrolytic processes, ECM degradation and fibrogenesis related cytokines. Recently, neo-epitopes, which are post-translational modifications of proteins, have been successfully used in bone and cartilage diseases which are characterized by extensive ECM remodeling. Increasing numbers of studies are being undertaken to identify neo-epitopes generated during liver fibrosis, and which ultimately might be useful for diagnosing and monitoring fibrogenesis. To date, the metalloproteinases generated fragment of collagen I, III, IV and VI have been proven to be elevated in two rat models of fibrosis. This review summarizes the recent efforts that have been made to identify potentially reliable non-invasive serum markers. We used the recently proposed BIPED (Burden of disease, Investigative, Prognostic, Efficacy and Diagnostic) system to characterize potential serum markers and neo-epitope markers that have been identified to date.

Development of a novel score for liver fibrosis staging and comparison with eight simple laboratory scores in large numbers of HCV-monoinfected patients

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to develop and evaluate a predictive score named Fibrosis Routine Test (FRT) for liver fibrosis staging and to compare FRT with APRI, Lok, GUCI, FI, FibroQ, FCI, FIB-4 and 4RLB scores in large numbers of untreated HCV-monoinfected patients.

METHODS

Large numbers of estimation (N=2045) and validation patients (N=3212) were included in this study. Stepwise linear discriminant analysis and area under receiver-operating characteristic curves (AUCs) were used to create a predictive score comprising age, AFP, APRI and albumin.

RESULTS

In the estimation study, FRT produced AUCs 0.84, 0.85 and 0.86 for significant (F2-F4), advanced fibrosis (F3-F4) and cirrhosis (F4), respectively. FRT > 4 was 83% specific and 73% sensitive for F2-F4, FRT > 5 was 83% specific and 71% sensitive for F3-F4 and FRT > 5.5 was 81% specific and 73% sensitive for F4. In the validation study, FRT produced AUCs 0.81, 0.89 and 0.95 for F2-F4, F3-F4 and F4, respectively. The above eight scores demonstrated lower AUCs than FRT.

CONCLUSION

While liver biopsy is invasive, costly and associated with complications, Fibrosis Routine Test (FRT) is a non-invasive, inexpensive, simple and may reduce the need of liver biopsy.

Ultrasound versus biological markers in the evaluation of periportal fibrosis in human Schistosoma mansoni

In this paper, the authors review the literature and share their experience of the principal biological markers of fibrosis for the evaluation of periportal fibrosis (PPF) caused by mansoni schistosomiasis. These biological markers are compared to diagnostic ultrasound (US) scans as means of grading PPF. We also review procollagen type I and III, collagen type IV, laminin, hyaluronic acid (HA), immunoglobulin G, platelets, aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase as markers of the disease. Although there are several good markers for evaluating PPF and portal hypertension, such as HA, platelets or APRI, none can yet replace US. These markers may, however, be used to identify patients at greater risk of developing advanced disease in endemic areas and determine who will need further care and US studies.

Noninvasive assessment of hepatic fibrosis in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

AIM: To evaluate the accuracy of specific biochemical markers for the assessment of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

METHODS: One hundred and fifty-four patients with chronic HCV infection were included in this study; 124 patients were non-cirrhotic, and 30 were cirrhotic. The following measurements were obtained in all patients: serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin, total bilirubin, prothrombin time and concentration, complete blood count, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), HCVAb, HCV-RNA by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, abdominal ultrasound and ultrasonic-guided liver biopsy. The following ratios, scores and indices were calculated and compared with the results of the histopathological examination: AST/ALT ratio (AAR), age platelet index (API), AST to platelet ratio index (APRI), cirrhosis discriminating score (CDS), Pohl score, Göteborg University Cirrhosis Index (GUCI).

RESULTS: AAR, APRI, API and GUCI demonstrated good diagnostic accuracy of liver cirrhosis (80.5%, 79.2%, 76.6% and 80.5%, respectively); P values were: < 0.01, < 0.05, < 0.001 and < 0.001, respectively. Among the studied parameters, AAR and GUCI gave the highest diagnostic accuracy (80.5%) with cutoff values of 1.2 and 1.5, respectively. APRI, API and GUCI were significantly correlated with the stage of fibrosis (P < 0.001) and the grade of activity (P < 0.001, < 0.001 and < 0.005, respectively), while CDS only correlated significantly with the stage of fibrosis (P < 0.001) and not with the degree of activity (P > 0.05). In addition, we found significant correlations for the AAR, APRI, API, GUCI and Pohl score between the non-cirrhotic (F0, F1, F2, F3) and cirrhotic (F4) groups (P values: < 0.001, < 0.05, < 0.001, < 0.001 and < 0.005, respectively; CDS did not demonstrate significant correlation (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The use of AAR, APRI, API, GUCI and Pohl score measurements may decrease the need for liver biopsies in diagnosing cirrhosis, especially in Egypt, where resources are limited.

Noninvasive methods to assess liver disease in patients with hepatitis B or C

The prognosis and management of patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and C depend on the amount and progression of liver fibrosis and the risk for cirrhosis. Liver biopsy, traditionally considered to be the reference standard for staging of fibrosis, has been challenged over the past decade by the development of noninvasive methodologies. These methods rely on distinct but complementary approaches: a biologic approach, which quantifies serum levels of biomarkers of fibrosis, and a physical approach, which measures liver stiffness by ultrasound or magnetic resonance elastography. Noninvasive methods were initially studied and validated in patients with chronic hepatitis C but are now used increasingly for patients with hepatitis B, reducing the need for liver biopsy analysis. We review the advantages and limitations of the noninvasive methods used to manage patients with chronic viral hepatitis B or C infection.

Comparison of circulating endothelial cell/platelet count ratio to aspartate transaminase/platelet ratio index for identifying patients with cirrhosis

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) are indicative of vascular injury and correlate with severity of vascular diseases. A pilot study showed that the ratio of CEC to platelet count (CEC/PC) was effective in predicting cirrhosis. Therefore, we evaluated CEC/PC in a larger cohort of patients, correlated it with cirrhosis, and compared its operating characteristics with previously described biomarker for cirrhosis, the AST/platelet ratio index (APRI).

METHODS

Fifty-three patients with cirrhosis, 20 matched healthy controls, and 9 patients with noncirrhotic liver disease were recruited. Peripheral blood sample was collected and analyzed to enumerate nucleated CEC CD146+, CD105+, CD45- using a commercial assay.

RESULTS

Median CEC counts were significantly higher in patients with cirrhosis (62 cells/4 mL, interquartile range [IQR]: 43.5-121) as compared with controls (31 cells/4 mL, IQR: 22.2-40). The CEC/PC was also significantly elevated in cirrhotics (0.69, IQR: 0.39-1.48) compared with controls (0.12, IQR: 0.09-0.20) and noncirrhotics (0.21, IQR: 0.08-0.43). Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that CEC cutoff value of ≥37 cells/4 mL showed sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 75% for differentiating cirrhosis from controls (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67-0.91). The CEC/PC ratio cutoff value of ≥0.23 showed sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 82% (AUC: 0.92; 95% CI 0.83-0.99). The APRI cutoff value of ≥0.4 showed sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 85% for differentiating cirrhosis from control patients (AUC: 0.96; 95% CI 0.90-1.0). A product of CEC and APRI, termed CAPRI (CEC-APRI), effectively distinguished patients with cirrhosis from controls; with cutoff value of ≥12.7, showing higher sensitivity of 98% and specificity of 85% (AUC: 0.98; 95% CI 0.96-1.0).

CONCLUSION

The CEC/PC ratio is significantly elevated in patients with cirrhosis and demonstrates comparable operating characteristics to previously described APRI. Furthermore, CAPRI, compiled as product of CEC to APRI showed outstanding ability to distinguish patients with cirrhosis from controls, although larger studies are necessary for validation.

Prospective biopsy-controlled evaluation of cell death biomarkers for prediction of liver fibrosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Fibrosis and steatosis are major histopathological alterations in chronic liver diseases. Despite various shortcomings, disease severity is generally determined by liver biopsy, emphasizing the need for simple noninvasive methods for assessing disease activity. Because hepatocyte cell death is considered a crucial pathogenic factor, we prospectively evaluated the utility of serum biomarkers of cell death to predict different stages of fibrosis and steatosis in 121 patients with chronic liver disease. We compared the M30 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which detects a caspase-cleaved cytokeratin-18 (CK-18) fragment and thereby apoptotic cell death, with the M65 ELISA, which detects both caspase-cleaved and uncleaved CK-18 and thereby overall cell death. Both biomarkers significantly discriminated patients with different fibrosis stages from healthy controls. However, whereas both markers differentiated low or moderate from advanced fibrosis, only the M65 antigen could discriminate even lower stages of fibrosis. The M65 assay also performed better in distinguishing low (≤10%) and higher (>10%) grades of steatosis. In a subgroup of patients, we evaluated the biomarkers for their power to predict nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Importantly, both markers accurately differentiated healthy controls or simple steatosis from NASH. However, only serum levels of M65 antigen could differentiate simple steatosis from healthy controls.

CONCLUSION

Cell death biomarkers are potentially useful to predict fibrosis, steatosis, or NASH. Compared with the widely used apoptosis marker M30, the M65 assay had a better diagnostic performance and even differentiated between lower fibrosis stages as well as between healthy individuals and patients with simple steatosis.

Comparison of three algorithms of non-invasive markers of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C

BACKGROUND

Preliminary data suggest that performance of non-invasive markers for liver fibrosis in hepatitis C may improve when combined. Three algorithms based on the combination of Fibrotest, Forns' index and AST-to-platelet ratio (APRI) have been proposed: Sequential Algorithm for Fibrosis Evaluation (SAFE biopsy); Fibropaca algorithm; Leroy algorithm.

AIM

To compare three algorithms to diagnose significant fibrosis (≥ F2 by METAVIR) and cirrhosis (F4).

METHODS

A total of 1013 HCV monoinfected cases undergoing liver biopsy were consecutively enrolled in seven centres. Fibrotest, APRI and Forns' index were measured at the time of liver biopsy, considered the reference standard.

RESULTS

Overall, performance of combination algorithms was significantly higher than the single non-invasive methods (P < 0.0001). SAFE biopsy and Fibropaca algorithm saved a significantly higher number of liver biopsies than the single methods (P < 0.0001). For ≥ F2, Fibropaca algorithm saved more biopsies than SAFE biopsy (51.7% vs. 43.8%, P = 0.0003), but with lower accuracy (87.6% vs. 90.3%, P = 0.05). Regarding F4, the number of saved liver biopsies did not differ between SAFE biopsy and Fibropaca algorithm (79.1% vs. 76.2%, P = 0.12). However, SAFE biopsy showed a lower accuracy when compared with Fibropaca algorithm (91.2% vs. 94%, P = 0.02). As to Leroy algorithm, although it showed a good performance for ≥ F2 (93.5% accuracy), it saved less liver biopsies than SAFE biopsy and Fibropaca algorithm (29.2% vs. 43.8% and 51.7% respectively, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

SAFE biopsy and the Fibropaca algorithm have excellent performance for liver fibrosis in hepatitis C, allowing a significant reduction in the need for liver biopsies. They can be useful in clinical practice and for large-scale screening.