A systematic review 1 including 15 studies with a total of 1 546 subjects (quantitative histological assessment) and 42 studies for qualitative assessment), was abstracted in DARE.
Results for quantitative assessment: For patients who underwent a second liver biopsy at the end of treatment (9 studies, n=201), 28% had improved histology, whilst for 5% the histology deteriorated. The sensitivity and specificity of the ALT for determining histological change were 70% (95% CI 56% to 81%) and 66% (95% CI 56% to 75%). As many as 17% (95% CI 9% to 30%) of patients with abnormal ALT at the end of therapy may have improved histology.
Primary/Secondary Keywords