title: Correlation between FIB4, liver stiffness and metabolic parameters in patients with HIV and hepatitis C virus co-infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assessment of liver fibrosis is crucial in HIV/HCV coinfected patients, in whom metabolic disturbances are frequent. Aims of this study were to analyse the association of two non-invasive liver fibrosis evaluation methods, liver stiffness measurement and FIB4, and their correlation with metabolic parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a single centre cross-sectional study. All patients underwent biochemical and virological assessment, FIB4 score, HOMA and transient elastography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-five patients were evaluated. Liver stiffness values positively correlated with FIB4 (R = 0.62; p < 0.0001). By ROC curve analysis the optimal cut-off for liver stiffness to identify high FIB4 was calculated as 10.1 kPa. The area under the ROC curve was 0.78 (95% CI 0.78-0.94, sensitivity 83.3%, specificity 80.7%). Liver stiffness values positively correlated with HOMA score (R = 0.31; p = 0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of two non invasive tools provide a useful system for the assessment of fibrosis evolution in patients with HIV-HCV coinfection.
authors: Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Foundation IRCCS San Matteo Hospital, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. r.bruno@smatteo.pv.it
authors: Raffaele
authors: R
authors: Bruno
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Sacchi
authors: Serena
authors: S
authors: Cima
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Maiocchi
authors: Savino F A
authors: SF
authors: Patruno
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Klersy
authors: Giorgio
authors: G
authors: Barbarini
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Zuccaro
authors: Calogero
authors: C
authors: Camma
authors: Gaetano
authors: G
authors: Filice