Diagnostic value of FibroTest combined with FibroScan for liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of FibroTest combined with FibroScan for liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B ( CHB) . Methods Serum samples were collected from 99 CHB patients who underwent liver biopsy in Tianjin Second People's Hospital from August 2011 to July 2013. Serum levels of α2- macroglobulin, haptoglobin, apolipoprotein AI, total bilirubin, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were measured, and FibroTest scores were calculated according to the measurement results, as well as the age and sex of patients. In addition, all patients underwent liver stiffness measurement by FibroScan. According to the Scheuer system, liver fibrosis was staged as significant fibrosis ( S2- S4) and severe fibrosis ( S3- S4) . With liver biopsy as the gold standard, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves ( AUCs) of FibroTest and FibroScan were determined. The diagnostic values of FibroTest and FibroScan for liver fibrosis in CHB patients were evaluated accordingly, and their combined diagnostic value was determined by logistic stepwise regression analysis. Results The AUCs of FibroTest and FibroScan for the prediction of significant fibrosis ( S2- S4) were 0. 805 ( 95% CI: 0. 713- 0. 897, P < 0. 001) and 0. 896 ( 95% CI: 0. 833- 0. 959, P < 0. 001) , respectively, and their AUCs for the prediction of severe fibrosis ( S3- S4) were 0. 834 ( 95% CI: 0. 741- 0. 928, P < 0. 001) and 0. 945 ( 95% CI: 0. 891- 0. 999, P < 0. 001) , respectively. Their combined AUC for the prediction of significant fibrosis ( S2- S4) was 0. 911 ( 95% CI: 0. 854- 0. 967, P < 0. 001) . Conclusion The combination of FibroTest and FibroScan can evaluate the liver fibrosis in CHB patients more accurately, and it not only improves diagnostic specificity, but also ensures high diagnostic accuracy, providing guidance for the prognostic evaluation and treatment of CHB.