Hepatitis C (Fibrosis Prediction Score)
Info
Platelet count
unit 10^9/L 10^3/mm^3
gammaglutamyl transferase (U/L)
Age (years)
Cholesterol
unit mg/dL mmol/L
R e s u l t s
---
 
-
 
-
 
Show Results
Info
Hepatitis C (Fibrosis Prediction Score)

Liver biopsy is currently considered the best test for staging hepatic fibrosis. Unfortunately, liver biopsy carries a small but significant risk, and is an invasive and potentially painful procedure.

Having noninvasive means to assess hepatic fibrosis is desirable.

In patients with Hepatitis C (HCV), hepatic fibrosis stage relates to prognosis, guides management decisions, and monitoring of disease.

Forns et al. developed a noninvasive index derived from age, gammaglutamyl transferase (GGT), cholesterol, and platelet count in a study of 476 untreated HCV patients.

The formula developed is:

  • PS = 7.811-3.131*ln(Pc)+0.781*ln(GGT)+3.467*ln(Age)-0.014*(Chl)
  • PS = Prediction Score
  • Pc = Platelet count in 109/L
  • GGT = gammaglutamyl transferase in U/L
  • Age = Age in years
  • Chl = Cholesterol in mg/dL

Note: The Forns Index gives prediction score according to F2-F4 of the Scheuer classification from the Scheuer fibrosis score system. The diagnostic accuracy of this index has been confirmed in patients with HIV-HCV coinfection.

Interpretation:

Cut off Score Description PPV (%) NPV (%)
<=4.2 Exclude significant fibrosis 40 96
>=6.9 Diagnosis of significant fibrosis. 66 80
4.3-6.8 Indeterminate x x

* PPV: Positive Predictive Value

* NPV: Negative Predictive Value

Reference:

  • Castera L, Pawlotsky JM. Noninvasive diagnosis of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C. MedGenMed. 2005;7(4):39.
  • Forns X, Ampurdanès S, Llovet JM, et al. Identification of chronic hepatitis C patients without hepatic fibrosis by a simple predictive model. Hepatology. 2002;36(4 Pt 1):986-92.
  • Macías J, Girón-gonzález JA, González-serrano M, et al. Prediction of liver fibrosis in human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus coinfected patients by simple non-invasive indexes. Gut. 2006;55(3):409-14.
  • Stauber RE, Lackner C. Noninvasive diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C. World J Gastroenterol. 2007;13(32):4287-94.