Retrospective evaluation of serum markers APRI and AST/ALT for assessing liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B and C patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), aspartate aminotransferase-to-alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) ratio, platelet count, AST, albumin, bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase were retrospectively evaluated for the prediction of advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma in this study.


METHODS
In total, the 97 selected patients consisted of 9 (9.3%) patients with non-B, non-C chronic hepatitis, 48 (49.5%) patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 40 (41.2%) patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).


RESULTS
The APRI, but not AST/ALT or other serum markers, showed a significant correlation with advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis (p<0.05). The area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC) for predicting advanced fibrosis was 0.69 in CHB patients and 0.87 in CHC patients, whereas AUROC for predicting cirrhosis was 0.75 in CHB patients and 0.84 in CHC patients. In addition, the sensitivity and specificity of APRI were greater than 80% for predicting advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis in the CHC patients.


CONCLUSIONS
APRI is a simple and non-invasive biochemical marker of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, particularly in CHC patients. APRI potentially could be used to decrease the number of liver biopsies.
Lin
Chen-Sheng
CS
Division of Gastroenterology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan.
Chang
Chi-Sen
CS
Yang
Sheng-Shun
SS
Yeh
Hong-Zen
HZ
Lin
Cheng-Wen
CW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015415:Biomarkers; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase