Use of simple noninvasive biomarkers to predict liver fibrosis in HIV/HCV coinfection in routine clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Simple noninvasive tests to predict fibrosis, as an alternative to liver biopsy (LB), are needed. Of these, the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to platelet ratio index (APRI) and the Forns index (FI) have been validated in HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection. However, these indexes may have lower diagnostic value in situations other than the circumscribed conditions of validation studies. We therefore examined the value of the APRI and FI in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients for the detection of significant fibrosis in real-life conditions.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: HIV/HCV-coinfected patients who had participated in a multicentre cross-sectional retrospective study were selected if they had undergone an LB within 24 months before the last visit. The predictive accuracy of the APRI and FI was measured using the areas under receiver-operating-characteristic curves (AUROCs). Diagnostic accuracy was determined using the positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values.

RESULTS: A total of 519 coinfected individuals were included in the study. The AUROC [95% confidence interval (95% CI)] of the APRI was 0.67 (0.66-0.71) and that of the FI was 0.67 (0.62-0.71). The PPV of the APRI was 79% and its NPV was 66%. The PPV of the FI was 74% and its NPV was 64%. LB length was available and was > or =15 mm in 120 individuals. In this group, the PPV of the APRI was 85%, and that of the FI was 81%. Using these indexes, 22% of patients could be spared LB. Applying both models sequentially, 30% of patients could be spared LB.

CONCLUSIONS: In HIV/HCV-coinfected patients, the diagnostic accuracy of the APRI in real-life conditions was similar to that in the validation studies. The FI performed less well. However, combining the two indexes to make decisions on anti-HCV therapy may prevent a significant proportion of patients from having to undergo LB.