Multiple approaches to assess fourteen non-invasive serum indexes for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients

Accuracy of blood-based biomarkers for staging liver fibrosis in chronic liver disease: A systematic review supporting the AASLD Practice Guideline

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Blood-based biomarkers have been proposed as an alternative to liver biopsy for noninvasive liver disease assessment in chronic liver disease. Our aims for this systematic review were to evaluate the diagnostic utility of selected blood-based tests either alone, or in combination, for identifying significant fibrosis (F2-4), advanced fibrosis (F3-4), and cirrhosis (F4), as compared to biopsy in chronic liver disease.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

We included a comprehensive search of databases including Ovid MEDLINE(R), EMBASE, Cochrane Database, and Scopus through to April 2022. Two independent reviewers selected 286 studies with 103,162 patients. The most frequently identified studies included the simple aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index and fibrosis (FIB)-4 markers (with low-to-moderate risk of bias) in HBV and HCV, HIV-HCV/HBV coinfection, and NAFLD. Positive (LR+) and negative (LR-) likelihood ratios across direct and indirect biomarker tests for HCV and HBV for F2-4, F3-4, or F4 were 1.66-6.25 and 0.23-0.80, 1.89-5.24 and 0.12-0.64, and 1.32-7.15 and 0.15-0.86, respectively; LR+ and LR- for NAFLD F2-4, F3-4, and F4 were 2.65-3.37 and 0.37-0.39, 2.25-6.76 and 0.07-0.87, and 3.90 and 0.15, respectively. Overall, the proportional odds ratio indicated FIB-4 <1.45 was better than aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index <0.5 for F2-4. FIB-4 >3.25 was also better than aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index >1.5 for F3-4 and F4. There was limited data for combined tests.

CONCLUSIONS

Blood-based biomarkers are associated with small-to-moderate change in pretest probability for diagnosing F2-4, F3-4, and F4 in viral hepatitis, HIV-HCV coinfection, and NAFLD, with limited comparative or combination studies for other chronic liver diseases.

Liver fibrosis stage based on the four factors (FIB-4) score or Forns index in adults with chronic hepatitis C

BACKGROUND

The presence and severity of liver fibrosis are important prognostic variables when evaluating people with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Although liver biopsy remains the reference standard, non-invasive serological markers, such as the four factors (FIB-4) score and the Forns index, can also be used to stage liver fibrosis.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the diagnostic accuracy of the FIB-4 score and Forns index in staging liver fibrosis in people with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) virus, using liver biopsy as the reference standard (primary objective). To compare the diagnostic accuracy of these tests for staging liver fibrosis in people with CHC and explore potential sources of heterogeneity (secondary objectives).

SEARCH METHODS

We used standard Cochrane search methods for diagnostic accuracy studies (search date: 13 April 2022).

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included diagnostic cross-sectional or case-control studies that evaluated the performance of the FIB-4 score, the Forns index, or both, against liver biopsy, in the assessment of liver fibrosis in participants with CHC. We imposed no language restrictions. We excluded studies in which: participants had causes of liver disease besides CHC; participants had successfully been treated for CHC; or the interval between the index test and liver biopsy exceeded six months.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently extracted data. We performed meta-analyses using the bivariate model and calculated summary estimates. We evaluated the performance of both tests for three target conditions: significant fibrosis or worse (METAVIR stage ≥ F2); severe fibrosis or worse (METAVIR stage ≥ F3); and cirrhosis (METAVIR stage F4). We restricted the meta-analysis to studies reporting cut-offs in a specified range (+/-0.15 for FIB-4; +/-0.3 for Forns index) around the original validated cut-offs (1.45 and 3.25 for FIB-4; 4.2 and 6.9 for Forns index). We calculated the percentage of people who would receive an indeterminate result (i.e. above the rule-out threshold but below the rule-in threshold) for each index test/cut-off/target condition combination.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 84 studies (with a total of 107,583 participants) from 28 countries, published between 2002 and 2021, in the qualitative synthesis. Of the 84 studies, 82 (98%) were cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy studies with cohort-based sampling, and the remaining two (2%) were case-control studies. All studies were conducted in referral centres. Our main meta-analysis included 62 studies (100,605 participants). Overall, two studies (2%) had low risk of bias, 23 studies (27%) had unclear risk of bias, and 59 studies (73%) had high risk of bias. We judged 13 studies (15%) to have applicability concerns regarding participant selection. FIB-4 score The FIB-4 score's low cut-off (1.45) is designed to rule out people with at least severe fibrosis (≥ F3). Thirty-nine study cohorts (86,907 participants) yielded a summary sensitivity of 81.1% (95% confidence interval (CI) 75.6% to 85.6%), specificity of 62.3% (95% CI 57.4% to 66.9%), and negative likelihood ratio (LR-) of 0.30 (95% CI 0.24 to 0.38). The FIB-4 score's high cut-off (3.25) is designed to rule in people with at least severe fibrosis (≥ F3). Twenty-four study cohorts (81,350 participants) yielded a summary sensitivity of 41.4% (95% CI 33.0% to 50.4%), specificity of 92.6% (95% CI 89.5% to 94.9%), and positive likelihood ratio (LR+) of 5.6 (95% CI 4.4 to 7.1). Using the FIB-4 score to assess severe fibrosis and applying both cut-offs together, 30.9% of people would obtain an indeterminate result, requiring further investigations. We report the summary accuracy estimates for the FIB-4 score when used for assessing significant fibrosis (≥ F2) and cirrhosis (F4) in the main review text. Forns index The Forns index's low cut-off (4.2) is designed to rule out people with at least significant fibrosis (≥ F2). Seventeen study cohorts (4354 participants) yielded a summary sensitivity of 84.7% (95% CI 77.9% to 89.7%), specificity of 47.9% (95% CI 38.6% to 57.3%), and LR- of 0.32 (95% CI 0.25 to 0.41). The Forns index's high cut-off (6.9) is designed to rule in people with at least significant fibrosis (≥ F2). Twelve study cohorts (3245 participants) yielded a summary sensitivity of 34.1% (95% CI 26.4% to 42.8%), specificity of 97.3% (95% CI 92.9% to 99.0%), and LR+ of 12.5 (95% CI 5.7 to 27.2). Using the Forns index to assess significant fibrosis and applying both cut-offs together, 44.8% of people would obtain an indeterminate result, requiring further investigations. We report the summary accuracy estimates for the Forns index when used for assessing severe fibrosis (≥ F3) and cirrhosis (F4) in the main text. Comparing FIB-4 to Forns index There were insufficient studies to meta-analyse the performance of the Forns index for diagnosing severe fibrosis and cirrhosis. Therefore, comparisons of the two tests' performance were not possible for these target conditions. For diagnosing significant fibrosis and worse, there were no significant differences in their performance when using the high cut-off. The Forns index performed slightly better than FIB-4 when using the low/rule-out cut-off (relative sensitivity 1.12, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.25; P = 0.0573; relative specificity 0.69, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.84; P = 0.002).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Both the FIB-4 score and the Forns index may be considered for the initial assessment of people with CHC. The FIB-4 score's low cut-off (1.45) can be used to rule out people with at least severe fibrosis (≥ F3) and cirrhosis (F4). The Forns index's high cut-off (6.9) can be used to diagnose people with at least significant fibrosis (≥ F2). We judged most of the included studies to be at unclear or high risk of bias. The overall quality of the body of evidence was low or very low, and more high-quality studies are needed. Our review only captured data from referral centres. Therefore, when generalising our results to a primary care population, the probability of false positives will likely be higher and false negatives will likely be lower. More research is needed in sub-Saharan Africa, since these tests may be of value in such resource-poor settings.

Noninvasive Models to Assess Liver Inflammation and Fibrosis in Chronic HBV Infected Patients with Normal or Mildly Elevated Alanine Transaminase Levels: Which One Is Most Suitable?

The prevalence of substantial inflammation or fibrosis in treatment-naïve patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and normal alanine transaminase (ALT) levels is high. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 559 consecutive patients with hepatitis B virus infection, who underwent liver biopsy, to investigate the value of noninvasive models based on routine serum markers for evaluating liver histology in CHB patients with normal or mildly elevated ALT levels and to provide treatment guidance. After comparing 55 models, we identified the top three models that exhibited excellent performance. The APGA model, based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), demonstrated a superior ability to evaluate significant (AUROC = 0.750) and advanced fibrosis (AUROC = 0.832) and demonstrated a good performance in assessing liver inflammation (AUROCs = 0.779 and 0.874 for stages G ≥ 2 and G ≥ 3, respectively). APGA also exhibited significant correlations with liver inflammation and fibrosis stage (correlation coefficients, 0.452 and 0.405, respectively (p < 0.001)). When the patients were stratified into groups based on HBeAg status and ALT level, APGA consistently outperformed the other 54 models. The other top two models, GAPI and XIE, also outperformed models based on other chronic hepatitis diseases. APGA may be the most suitable option for detecting liver fibrosis and inflammation in Chinese patients with CHB.

A Nomogram for Predicting Portal Hypertensive Gastropathy in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis: A Retrospective Analysis

Background

There is an urgent need for non-invasive methods for predicting portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG). This study aims to develop and validate a non-invasive method based on clinical parameters for predicting PHG in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC).

Methods

The overall survival (OS) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-free survival were evaluated in LC patients, both with and without PHG. A prediction model for PHG was then constructed based on a training dataset that contained data on 492 LC patients. The discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility of the predicting nomogram were assessed using the C-index, calibration plot, and decision curve analysis. Internal validation was conducted using a bootstrapping method, and further external validation using data on the 208 other patients.

Results

LC patients with PHG had a worse prognosis compared with those without PHG. A nomogram was constructed using clinical parameters, such as age, hemoglobin content, platelet count and Child-Pugh class. The C-index was 0.773 (95% CI: 0.730–0.816) in the training cohort, 0.761 after bootstrapping and 0.745 (95% CI: 0.673–0.817) in the validation cohort. The AUC values were 0.767, 0.724, and 0.756 in the training, validation and total cohorts, respectively. Well-fitted calibration curves were observed in the training and validation cohorts. Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the nomogram was clinically useful at a threshold of 15%.

Conclusion

The nomogram constructed to predict the risk of developing PHG was found to be clinically viable. Furthermore, PHG is an independent risk factor for OS of LC, but not for the occurrence of HCC.

Predictive value of noninvasive indices in chronic hepatitis B virus-related fibrosis

OBJECTIVES

Despite being an invasive method, liver biopsy followed by pathological grading remains the gold standard in evaluating liver fibrosis resulting from chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The present study aims to evaluate the utility of biochemical parameters and their derived indices in predicting development of fibrosis related to HBV infection.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Pathology results and biochemical parameters of patients who underwent liver biopsy were retrieved from electronic archive records dated 2010-2019 and evaluated retrospectively. Pathological fibrosis grading was performed as per Ishak scoring, with scores of 1-2 considered as mild fibrosis and 3-6 as advanced fibrosis.

RESULTS

The mean age of 302 patients was 37.69 ± 11.33 years. Of the 302 patients, 230 (76.2%) had mild fibrosis and 72 (23.8%) had advanced fibrosis. Age-platelet index, aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index, fibrosis-4 (FIB-4), modified fibrosis-4, platelets count, aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio/platelet ratio index, Goteborg University Cirrhosis Index and King's score were markedly and significantly higher in patients with advanced fibrosis than those with mild fibrosis. FIB-4, age-platelet index and King's score had higher (>80%) area under the curve values than other indices in the receiver operating characteristics analysis. Evaluation of sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of these indices with the specified cut-off values revealed 87% sensitivity with FIB-4, 70% specificity with King's score and 72% accuracy with the age-platelet index.

CONCLUSION

In this study, the highest rates of sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in distinguishing and predicting liver fibrosis were observed with the noninvasive indices FIB-4, King's score and the age-platelet index, respectively.

Diagnostic accuracy of different noninvasive scores for detecting advanced fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B

OBJECTIVES

The liver biopsy is the gold standard for determining the level of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B infection (CHBI). Nonetheless, it is possible to predict liver fibrosis through some noninvasive methods such as noninvasive scoring (NIS) of some serum biomarkers obtained from routine blood tests. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of nine NIS for detecting advanced fibrosis in CHBI.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We reviewed the hospital records of CHBI cases with liver biopsy between January 2011 and December 2016 retrospectively. Using Ishak scoring method, we classified fibrosis stage 1-2 as mild and 3-6 as advanced fibrosis. We calculated the NIS by considering the age, platelet count, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, platelet, and international normalized ratio values at the time of the biopsy.

RESULTS

The mean age of 202 patients was 37.69± 11.33 years. In cases with advanced fibrosis, the age, gammaglutamyltransferase, and international normalized ratio values were higher and platelet count was lower (P < 0.05). Mean platelet volume was not different between the two groups (P = 0.499). The median values of γ-glutamyl peptidase-platelet ratio (GPR), FibroQ, Goteborg University Cirrhosis Index, fibrosis-4 (FIB-4), aspartate aminotransferase-platelet ratio index, age-platelet index, and King scoring were significantly higher in the advanced fibrosis group. The highest area under the curve value was in GPR [AUC = 0.731 (0.639-0.788); P = 0.000] in the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Cirrhosis Discriminant Score and Aspartate aminotransferase-to-alanine aminotransferase ratio tests were not valuable in detecting advanced fibrosis. FIB-4 had the highest (0.678) diagnostic accuracy rate.

CONCLUSION

We found that the calculation of NIS before liver biopsy, especially GPR and FIB-4, may be useful for predicting advanced fibrosis in cases with CHBI.

A prospective study of daclatasvir and sofosbuvir in chronic HCV-infected kidney transplant recipients

BACKGROUND

Only a few prospective trials exist regarding the use of novel direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) in kidney transplant recipients (KTR) with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

METHODS

This prospective single-center trial evaluated treatment with daclatasvir (DCV) and sofosbuvir (SOF) over 12 weeks in 16 adult chronic HCV infected KTR and eGFR > 30 ml/min/1.73m². Primary endpoint was sustained virological response 12 weeks after end of therapy (SVR12). Beside baseline liver biopsy, hepatic function and glucose metabolism were regularly assessed.

RESULTS

Four of 16 study patients had previously failed interferon-based HCV treatment. Liver biopsy showed mostly moderate fibrosis score before therapy with DCV/SOF was initiated at a median of 10.3 years after transplantation. In total, 15 of 16 KTR achieved SVR12. One patient showed early viral relapse because of resistance-associated variants (RAVs) in the HCV NS5A region. Rescue treatment with SOF/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir resulted in SVR12. DAAs treatment led to significant improvement of liver metabolism and glucose tolerance accompanied with no therapy-associated major adverse events and excellent tolerability.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates safety, efficacy and functional benefit of DCV/SOF treatment in KTR with chronic HCV infection. We provide data on rescue strategies for treatment failures due to present RAVs and amelioration of hepatic function and glucose tolerance.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Registry name: European Clinical Trials Register; Trial registry number (Eudra-CT): 2014-004551-32 , Registration date: Aug 28th 2015.

Aspartate transaminase-platelet ratio and Fibrosis-4 indices as effective markers for monitoring esophageal varices in HIV/hepatitis C virus co-infected patients due to contaminated blood products for hemophilia

AIM

We examined the feasibility of the aspartate transaminase (AST)-platelet ratio index (APRI) and Fibrosis-4 (FIB4) score, which are well-established markers for liver fibrosis, as indicators for monitoring esophageal varices in patients who were co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) due to contaminated blood products for hemophilia in Japan.

METHODS

Forty-three HIV/HCV co-infected patients were enrolled. All were hemophilic men (median age 41 years; range, 29-66 years). We analyzed the correlations between fibrosis indices (APRI, FIB4) and various liver function tests, fibrosis markers, liver stiffness measured by acoustic radiation force impulse elastography, and the findings of gastrointestinal endoscopy.

RESULTS

Both APRI and FIB4 were well correlated with several of the factors related to liver fibrosis and the existence of esophageal varices in the patients. The cut-off values for detecting esophageal varices estimated as the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve were 0.85 for APRI and 1.85 for FIB4.

CONCLUSION

In patients co-infected with HIV/HCV due to contaminated blood products for hemophilia, APRI and FIB4 are effective for monitoring esophageal varices, even among patients who are apparently doing well with good liver function as Child-Pugh grade A.

SVR Rates of HCV-infected population under PEG-IFN-α/R treatment in Northwest China

BACKGROUND

Chronic HCV Patients taking PEG-IFN-α/R from different ethnic groups have different probabilities of reaching a sustained viral response (SVR). There are many influence factors, such as HCV genotype, IL-28B single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), Fibrosis 4 index (FIB-4), and aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) score. But the baseline factors in relation to treatment outcome was still not much clear.

METHODS

We evaluated data from 231 chronic HCV patients with or without liver fibrosis and their antiviral efficacy after treatment with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin (PEG-IFN-α/R) for 24-48 weeks. IL-28B SNP and HCV genotypes were analyzed with genome sequencing using pyrosequencing.

RESULTS

Sustained viral response (SVR) rates of patients with HCV 1b and 2a genotypes were 52.25% (58/111) and 75.28% (67/89) (P < 0.01). SVR rates of patients with IL-28B rs8099917 TT, rs12979860 CC and rs12980275 AA were 92.41% (25/27), 92.86% (26/28) and 88.89% (24/27) separately. We found that SVR rates in HCV 1b and 2a patients were only 31.0 and 39.4% if their FIB-4 > 3.25. In addition, when their APRI > 2, only 30.3% of HCV 1b patients and 50.2% of HCV 2a patients could obtain SVR.

CONCLUSIONS

There were high proportion of HCV genotype 1b and 2a in Northwest China. In both HCV 1b and 2a genotypes, patients with protective-genotype of IL-28B were more likely to obtain SVR. However, those with significant fibrosis or cirrhosis were less likely, no matter their genotype. Combined factors of HCV genotype, IL-28B genotype, FIB-4 and ARPI may indicate high prediction and clinical value regarding treatment with PEG-IFN-α/R and prognostic evaluation of chronic hepatitis C patients.