title: Fibroscan of chronic HCV patients coinfected with schistosomiasis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Both hepatitis C virus (HCV) and schistosomiasis are highly endemic in Egypt and coinfection is frequently encountered. Such coinfection is responsible for leading to a more severe liver disease. Hence, the aim of the study was to assess the fibroscan in chronic HCV patients coinfected with Schistosoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 231 chronic HCV patients. Routine pre-treatment work-up was done including anti-schistosomal antibodies. Liver stiffness measurements using fibroscan and reference needle-liver biopsy were done. Patients were categorised into two groups: HCV patients with positive schistosomal serology and HCV patients with negative schistosomal serology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anti-schistosomal antibody was positive in 29% of the studied population. Positive schistosomal serology status was significantly associated with the disagreement between the results of liver biopsy (Metavir) and the fibroscan results (p value=0.02), which was more obvious in F2 and F3 fibrosis stages. The sensitivity of fibroscan for the detection of the F2 stage decreased from 64% among negative schistosomal serology patients to 30.8% among positive schistosomal serology patients, and for the F3 stage it decreased from 43.8% to 21.4%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression showed that fibrosis stages (F0-F1 and F4) were the most independent factors that were associated with the agreement between fibroscan and liver biopsy (odds ratio (OR) 3.4, 7.12 and p value <0.001, <0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the sensitivity of fibroscan for the detection of fibrosis stages (F2 and F3) was impaired in patients with positive schistosomal serology, fibrosis stages (F0-F1 and F4) were the most independent factors associated with the agreement between fibroscan and liver biopsy.
authors.affiliation: Endemic Medicine and Hepatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Gamal
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Esmat
authors.forename: Aisha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elsharkawy
authors.forename: Wafaa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: El Akel
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fouad
authors.forename: Karem
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Helal
authors.forename: Mostafa Kamal
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Attia
authors.forename: Hany
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khattab
authors.forename: Wahid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Doss
authors.forename: Sameh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Labib
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D060085:Coinfection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012547:Schistosoma / Q000276:immunology; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D012698:Serologic Tests
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies
keywords: Fibroscan; HCV; Liver stiffness; Schistosomiasis