Assessment of liver fibrosis progression in patients with chronic hepatitis C and normal alanine aminotransferase values: the role of AST to the platelet ratio index.

OBJECTIVES: To verify the value of indirect serum markers in the non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with persistently normal or near normal alanine aminotransferases levels (NALT).

DESIGN AND METHODS: Forty HCV RNA positive, untreated patients with NALT (30 non-drinkers) underwent two liver biopsies, with a median interval of 78.5 months. The AST/ALT ratio, age-platelet index, AST to platelet ratio index (APRI), Forns fibrosis index and Bonacini's discriminant score were simultaneously determined.

RESULTS: In 19 patients, worsening of fibrosis was observed at the second biopsy in comparison to the index biopsy. Among non-drinkers, an APRI >0.4 had a 100% sensitivity in identifying subjects with significant liver fibrosis (Ishak staging score >2) and an APRI < or =0.4 had a 100% negative predictive value in excluding significant liver fibrosis.

CONCLUSIONS: APRI performs better, in comparison to all other markers, in correctly classifying patients with NALT with no progression to significant liver fibrosis.