Aspartate Aminotransferase to Platelet Ratio Index for the Evaluation of Fibrosis in Chronic Viral Hepatitis

Abstract

The aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), developed for the diagnosis of significant liver fibrosis, and is calculated by the simple parameters used for the routine follow-up of the chronic hepatitis patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of APRI for predicting significant fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. CHB and CHC patients who were admitted to our clinic and were performed liver biopsy between 1999 to 2005 were included into the study. APRI values of 0.5 or less and greater than 1.5 were evaluated for predicting significant fibrosis. Fibrosis was considered to be insignificant in cases with scores 0 to 1 and significant in cases with scores 2 and 3. Ninety-seven male and 58 female patients were included into the study. CHB was present in 114 patients and CHC was present in 41 patients. Average Knodell and fibrosis score of the patients were 8.5 ± 3.6 and 1.3 ± 1.0, respectively. Significant fibrosis was detected in 50 of 155 patients and 34 of them were infected with CHB. CHC were detected in rest of them. Average age, serum gama-glutamyl-transpeptidase, Knodell scores and thrombocytopenia were detected statistically high in patients with significant fibrosis (p 1.5 (p 1.5 classified correctly %31 of patients with and without significant fibrosis. In conclusion, APRI can not replace liver biopsy for the detection of significant fibrosis in chronic hepatitis patients, but it might be helpful in cases in which liver biopsy could not be performed