Performance of 11 biomarkers for liver fibrosis assessment in HIV/HBV co-infected patients

J Hepatol. 2009 Jun;50(6):1074-83. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2009.01.022. Epub 2009 Mar 20.

Abstract

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to compare the performance of 11 biochemical scores to estimate liver fibrosis in HIV/HBV co-infection.

Methods: Performance was evaluated using the Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve method. The Kappa index was used to study overall agreement with liver biopsy results. Interpretative algorithms were established by optimizing sensitivity and specificity and the percentage of correctly classified patients.

Results: One hundred and eight patients (F0-F1, n = 47; F2, n = 28; F3, n = 17; F4, n = 16) were considered for the evaluation of serum biomarker performance. The AUROCs of the Fibrotest, Hepascore, Fibrometer, and Zeng's scores ranged from 0.74 to 0.77 for significant fibrosis (> or = F2), from 0.79 to 0.84 for advanced fibrosis (> or = F3) and from 0.87 to 0.92 for cirrhosis (F4). Thresholds defined for each stage of fibrosis were close to those previously published for the Fibrotest and Hepascore. Strict concordance with biopsies correctly classified 50% of the patients.

Conclusions: Fibrotest, Fibrometer, Hepascore, and Zeng's score were the most accurate non-invasive biochemical scores for liver fibrosis assessment in HIV/HBV co-infection. Global performance of biomarkers was not significantly improved by a decision tree combining the results of two biochemical scores.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Algorithms
  • Biomarkers / blood*
  • Biopsy
  • Blood Chemical Analysis / methods
  • Blood Chemical Analysis / statistics & numerical data
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / blood*
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • Hepatitis B / blood*
  • Hepatitis B / complications*
  • Humans
  • Liver Cirrhosis / blood*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / diagnosis*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / etiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • ROC Curve
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Biomarkers