FibroTest

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FibroTest
Purposeassess degree of liver damage

FibroTest, known as FibroSure in the US, is a biomarker test that uses the results of six blood serum tests to generate a score that is correlated with the degree of liver damage in people with a variety of liver diseases. FibroTest has the same prognostic value as a liver biopsy. FibroSure uses quantitative results of five serum biochemical markers, α2-macroglobulin, haptoglobin, apolipoprotein A1, bilirubin, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), with a patient’s age and gender to generate a measure of fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity in the liver.

Contents

FibroTest has been evaluated in relation to liver biopsy (the current reference standard in liver disease assessment) in people with hepatitis C, hepatitis B, [1] alcoholic liver disease, [2] and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. [3] They are most useful for cirrhosis and less useful for other stages of liver disease. [4]

By 2008 it had been used in over 350,000 patients. [5] In 2006, the French National Authority for Health recommended the use of FibroTest as one of a number of first-line assessment tool for fibrosis with untreated chronic hepatitis C. [6]

Procedure

The FibroTest score is calculated from the results of a six-parameter blood test, combining six serum markers with the age and gender of the patient: Alpha-2-macroglobulin, Haptoglobin, Apolipoprotein A1, Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), Total bilirubin, and Alanine transaminase (ALT). ALT is used in a second assessment called ActiTest that is part of FibroTest.[ citation needed ]

The equation for calculating the FibroTest score regression coefficient (logistic regression) is: [7]

where B=1 for male and B=0 for female. The score (between 0 and 1) is then

Due to variability of components assays and analyzers, FibroTest assays can only be performed in validated laboratories. [8] FibroTest cannot be used without algorithms that detects false positives and false negatives; the equation alone is not a diagnosis tool.[ citation needed ]

The laboratory or physician connects to the BioPredictive website [9] for calculation of the test results and prints the results sheet, which is available immediately and is accompanied by an interpretation aid and precautions for use.

Applicability

Over 95% of tests are interpretable and allow a diagnosis of fibrosis and liver activity. In less than 5% of cases, likely false positives or false negatives are highlighted. FibroTest has been validated for chronic hepatitis C, [10] chronic hepatitis B, [5] chronic hepatitis C or B with HIV co-infection, [11] alcoholic liver diseases (steatosis and steatohepatitis), [2] and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (diabetes, overweight, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension). [3]

FibroTest is independent of ethnic origin, sex, genotype, viral load, transaminases or the presence of comorbidities. The test has been validated in those over the age of 65 years, [12] children, [13] people with chronic kidney disease or kidney transplantation, hemophiliacs, patients with chronic inflammatory disease, and the general population.

The tests are not applicable in 1 to 5% of cases. These cases can be detected by laboratory safety algorithms and when detected they are indicated on the results sheet: [5]

Interpretation

The FibroTest score (in this case 0.88) may indicate the presence of cirrhosis. Fibrotest.jpg
The FibroTest score (in this case 0.88) may indicate the presence of cirrhosis.

The conversion of FibroTest score into stages according to the three most used histological classifications (METAVIR, Knodell and Ishak) for liver biopsies is:

FibroTestMETAVIRKnodellIshak
0.75-1.00F4F4F6
0.73-0.74F3-F4F3-F4F5
0.59-0.72F3F3F4
0.49-0.58F2F1-F3F3
0.32-0.48F1-F2F1-F3F2-F3
0.28-0.31F1F1F2
0.22-0.27F0-F1F0-F1F1
0.00-0.21F0F0F0

Comparison with liver biopsy

Liver biopsy is an imperfect tool; due to sampling errors, biopsy size (5 to 30 mm) and intra- and interobservor variability, it is now agreed that biopsy is an "imperfect Gold Standard " (citation required). Biopsy continues to present inconveniences: 30% of patients complain of pain, up to 3% have been noted to have complications severe enough to require hospitalization [14] [15] and a 0.01-0.3% rate of deaths has been reported. [16] [17] [18] There is a mean discordance of 25% between FibroTest and biopsy. Half of these discordances are attributable to an error of the biopsy, often too small, and the other half to FibroTest. [19] The inventors report that FibroTest has comparable diagnostic and prognostic value as a 25 mm biopsy, while being noninvasive and easily repeatable. [10] [2] [20]

Related Research Articles

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Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver tissue. Some people or animals with hepatitis have no symptoms, whereas others develop yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice), poor appetite, vomiting, tiredness, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Hepatitis is acute if it resolves within six months, and chronic if it lasts longer than six months. Acute hepatitis can resolve on its own, progress to chronic hepatitis, or (rarely) result in acute liver failure. Chronic hepatitis may progress to scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), liver failure, and liver cancer.

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Hepatitis D is a type of viral hepatitis caused by the hepatitis delta virus (HDV). HDV is one of five known hepatitis viruses: A, B, C, D, and E. HDV is considered to be a satellite because it can propagate only in the presence of the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Transmission of HDV can occur either via simultaneous infection with HBV (coinfection) or superimposed on chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis B carrier state (superinfection).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alcoholic liver disease</span> Medical condition

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD), also called alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD), is a term that encompasses the liver manifestations of alcohol overconsumption, including fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and chronic hepatitis with liver fibrosis or cirrhosis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alcoholic hepatitis</span> Medical condition

Alcoholic hepatitis is hepatitis due to excessive intake of alcohol. Patients typically have a history of at least 10 years of heavy alcohol intake, typically 8-10 drinks per day. It is usually found in association with fatty liver, an early stage of alcoholic liver disease, and may contribute to the progression of fibrosis, leading to cirrhosis. Symptoms may present acutely after a large amount of alcoholic intake in a short time period, or after years of excess alcohol intake. Signs and symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis include jaundice, ascites, fatigue and hepatic encephalopathy. Mild cases are self-limiting, but severe cases have a high risk of death. Severe cases may be treated with glucocorticoids. The condition often comes on suddenly and may progress in severity very rapidly.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hepatorenal syndrome</span> Human disease

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liver biopsy</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease</span> Excessive fat buildup in the liver with other metabolic disease

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In medicine, the presence of elevated transaminases, commonly the transaminases alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST), may be an indicator of liver dysfunction. Other terms include transaminasemia, transaminitis, and elevatedliver enzymes. Normal ranges for both ALT and AST vary by gender, age, and geography and are roughly 8-40 U/L. Mild transaminesemia refers to levels up to 250 U/L. Drug-induced increases such as that found with the use of anti-tuberculosis agents such as isoniazid are limited typically to below 100 U/L for either ALT or AST. Muscle sources of the enzymes, such as intense exercise, are unrelated to liver function and can markedly increase AST and ALT. Cirrhosis of the liver or fulminant liver failure secondary to hepatitis commonly reach values for both ALT and AST in the >1000 U/L range; however, many people with liver disease have normal transaminases. Elevated transaminases that persist less than six months are termed "acute" in nature, and those values that persist for six months or more are termed "chronic" in nature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hepatitis B</span> Human viral infection

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hemosiderosis</span> Iron metabolism disease

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cirrhosis</span> Chronic disease of the liver, characterized by fibrosis

Cirrhosis, also known as liver cirrhosis or hepatic cirrhosis, and end-stage liver disease, is the impaired liver function caused by the formation of scar tissue known as fibrosis due to damage caused by liver disease. Damage to the liver leads to repair of liver tissue and subsequent formation of scar tissue. Over time, scar tissue can replace normal functioning tissue, leading to the impaired liver function of cirrhosis. The disease typically develops slowly over months or years. Early symptoms may include tiredness, weakness, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, nausea and vomiting, and discomfort in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. As the disease worsens, symptoms may include itchiness, swelling in the lower legs, fluid build-up in the abdomen, jaundice, bruising easily, and the development of spider-like blood vessels in the skin. The fluid build-up in the abdomen may develop into spontaneous infections. More serious complications include hepatic encephalopathy, bleeding from dilated veins in the esophagus, stomach, or intestines, and liver cancer.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Epidemiology of Hepatitis D</span> Instance, distribution, and control of Hepatitis D

The epidemiology of hepatitis D occurs worldwide. Although the figures are disputed, a recent systematic review suggests that up to 60 million individuals could be infected. The major victims are the carriers of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), who become superinfected by the HDV, and intravenous drug users who are the group at highest risk. The infection usually results in liver damage ; this is most often a chronic and severe hepatitis rapidly conducive to cirrhosis.

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