Comparison of Liver Biopsy with Hepascore in Patients with Hepatitis C-Genotype 1

Serum biomarkers can be used as alternative method for liver biopsy in order to assess the level of fibrosis in patients with chronic Hepatitis C. The determination of Hepascore is a non-invasive method to assess the level of fibrosis among patients. This study aims to compare the liver biopsy results with Hepascore among the Genotype 1 Hepatitis C patients in Isfahan.

A sample of 39 patients with chronic Hepatitis C is selected through the simple non-random sampling method for a liver biopsy and Hepascore test. After biopsy, the patients are categorized based on the Metavir scoring system. The Hepascore algorithm is computed based on age, sex, total Billirubin, δ-glutamyl transferase, α2-Macroglobin, Hyaluronic acid. Using the Spearman and ROC test in SPSS15, collected data have been analyzed.

The liver biopsy results showed 6 patients with F0, 12 patients with F1, 10 patients with F2, 3 patients with F3, and 8 patients with F4. The Hepascore value above 0.37 cut off point for detecting significant level of fibrosis has shown 67% sensitivity, 61% specificity, 67% positive predictive value, 61% negative predictive value. For a Hepascore value above 0.66, the results are: 82% sensitivity, 89% specificity, 75% positive predictive, 89% negative predictive value. For a Hepascore value higher than 0.84 for detecting cirrhosis, the results are: 100% sensitivity, 97% specificity, 89% positive predictive, and 100% negative predictive value.

This study shows that the Hepascore method is accurate enough to measure the level of fibrosis, particularly cirrhosis. Therefore, it can use for screening of patients that need liver biopsy.: