Liver stiffness measurement in combination with noninvasive markers for the improved diagnosis of B-viral liver cirrhosis.

GOAL

To investigate the performance of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) in combination with available noninvasive markers in hepatitis B virus-related chronic liver disease.

BACKGROUND

Few noninvasive methods are available for predicting liver cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

STUDY

Between January 2006 and June 2007, we studied 130 consecutive treatment-naive CHB patients who underwent liver biopsy (LB) and LSM. The aspartate to alanine aminotransferase ratio, age-platelet index (API), aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), LSM, and their combinations were compared with liver histology.

RESULTS

The API, APRI, and LSM, but not the aspartate to alanine aminotransferase ratio, correlated significantly with liver cirrhosis (all P<0.001). The diagnostic accuracy of LSM and API exceed that of the other diagnostic methods for predicting liver cirrhosis (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve=0.840 and 0.818). When LSM was combined with API and APRI, the diagnostic accuracy was improved markedly (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve =0.871, and 0.846). When both LSM and API results were in agreement, LB confirmed them in 89.1% (41/46) of cases for liver cirrhosis. LB could have been avoided in 41 (31.5%) of the 130 patients who were examined for the potential diagnosis of liver cirrhosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of LSM and API can avoid unnecessary invasive LB procedures in CHB patients.