title: Discordance between liver biopsy and FibroTest in assessing liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The FibroTest (FT) demonstrated excellent diagnostic performance in the prediction of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Here, we aimed to identify predictors of discordance between FT and liver biopsy (LB) in Asian patients with CHB.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients with CHB who underwent both LB and FT on the same day between 2007 and 2010 were recruited from three medical institutes. Laboratory evaluations including specific parameters for calculating FT score, such as α2-macroglobulin, apolipoprotein A1, haptoglobin, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, and total bilirubin levels, were obtained. The Batts and Ludwig scoring system was used for histological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 330 patients (200 male and 130 female) were analyzed. Discordances of at least two fibrosis stages between FT and LB were observed in 30 (9.1%) patients; using FT, fibrosis was underestimated in 25 patients and overestimated in 5 patients with reference to LB. Patients with discordance had a higher proportion of F3-4 (P<0.001) and F4 (P = 0.012) compared with those with nondiscordance. The discordance rate was significantly higher in those with F3-4 than those with F1-2 (15.4% vs. 3.0%, P<0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated F3-4 at LB as the only independent factor for discordance (P<0.001; odds ratio 5.95). After adjusting fibrosis stages, neither necroinflammatory activity on histology nor serum ALT level influenced FT values independently.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Advanced fibrosis stage (F3-4) is the sole factor of discordance between FT and LB in Asian patients with CHB.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Mi Sung
authors: MS
authors: Park
authors: Beom Kyung
authors: BK
authors: Kim
authors: Jae Yoeun
authors: JY
authors: Cheong
authors: Dong Joon
authors: DJ
authors: Kim
authors: Jun Yong
authors: JY
authors: Park
authors: Do Young
authors: DY
authors: Kim
authors: Sang Hoon
authors: SH
authors: Ahn
authors: Kwang-Hyub
authors: KH
authors: Han
authors: Chae Yoon
authors: CY
authors: Chon
authors: Seung Up
authors: SU
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D044466:Asian People; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001706:Biopsy; D003938:Diagnostic Techniques, Digestive System; D005260:Female; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D015415:Biomarkers; D006242:Haptoglobins; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001663:Bilirubin