title: 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.
abstract: 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.
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan.
authors: Chen-Sheng
authors: CS
authors: Lin
authors: Chi-Sen
authors: CS
authors: Chang
authors: Sheng-Shun
authors: SS
authors: Yang
authors: Hong-Zen
authors: HZ
authors: Yeh
authors: Cheng-Wen
authors: CW
authors: Lin
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase