In:
Current HIV Research, Bentham Science Publishers Ltd., Vol. 17, No. 3 ( 2019-10-23), p. 173-182
Abstract:
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is common in HIV-infected
individuals. Liver biopsy remains the gold-standard procedure for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis, but both Transient Elastography (TE) and Non-invasive Biomarkers (NIBMs) have emerged as alternatives. Objectives: Our study’s aim was to validate commonly used NIBMs for the assessment of liver fibrosis
in a cohort of Greek HIV-mono-infected patients. Methods: Inclusion criteria were confirmed HIV-infection and age 〉 18 years and exclusion criteria
HBV or HCV seropositivity, liver disease other than NAFLD, alcohol abuse, ascites, transaminases levels 〉 4xULN(upper limit of normal) and Body-Mass index(BMI) 〉 40. Liver stiffness (LS) measurement
with TE and thorough laboratory work up and medical history were acquired at study entry. FIB-4, APRI, NFS, BARD, Forns and Lok scores were calculated for each patient. Results: A total of 157 patients were eligible for this study. Significant liver fibrosis, compatible
with Metavir score of F3-F4, was found in only 11(7%) patients. These findings were in accordance with those of the NIBMs; the BARD score constituting the only exception, allocating 102(65%) patients
as having significant liver fibrosis. In order to obtain a balance between sensitivity and specificity new cut-offs for each NIBM were calculated; FIB-4 score yielded the best results, since by
changing the cut-off to 1.49 a sensitivity and specificity balanced for both close to 85% was achieved. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that NIBMs can be used for the evaluation of liver fibrosis in HIV
mono-infected patients. New cut-offs for NIBMs should probably be calculated, to help distinguishing patients with significant from those with mild/no fibrosis.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1570-162X
DOI:
10.2174/1570162X17666190809153245
Language:
English
Publisher:
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Publication Date:
2019
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