Non-Invasive Assessment of Liver Fibrosis Through Echosens Fibro Meter Virus

Abstract

Background: Non-invasive methods for liver fibrosis assessment have replaced liver particularly for monitoring viral infections such as HBV and HCV. No studies have validated this test in NAFLD patient with high-risk factors. Methods: This study was done in patients presenting with chronic viral hepatitis B, chronic viral hepatitis C and NAFLD patient with high-risk factors whenever the necessity of liver biopsy was apparent in deciding the appropriate treatment plan. Echosens FibroMeter Virus test was done to determine the stage of fibrosis and the necroinflammatory status in this cohort of patients in a tertiary care hospital, Metro MAS in Jaipur, from September 2013 to April 2015. Results: Analysis of data from 57 patients, 24 (42%) of whom had chronic HBV infection and 7 (12%) chronic HCV infection, and 26 NAFLD patients with high risk factors (46%) was done. The median age was 50.1 12.0 (range 19–78). The mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.6 2.6 in the HBV group, 23.7 2.2 in the HCV group and 33.2 1.2 in the NAFLD group. The distribution of FibroMeter results was: F0–F1: 9 (12.2%), F1: 2 (3.3%), F1–F2: 23 (41.4%), F2: 9 (14.8%), F2–F3: 6 (11%), F3: 3 (5.0%), F3–F4: 7 (12.3%). The distribution of the necroinflammatory activity was: A0–A1: 9 (15.6%), A1–A2: 27 (47.1%), A2–A3: 21 (37.3%). No statistically significant differences were seen in this study between patients with chronic viral hepatitis and NAFLD regarding mean fibrosis scores (P = 0.468) or mean necroinflammatory activity scores (P = 0.72). Conclusion: FibroMeter Virus results should be interpreted in clinical context and potential confounding factors should be identified on a case-bycase basis. FibroMeter was also reproducible in NAFLD cohort of patients. Direct comparative study of this test with liver biopsy will further validate the sensitivity and specificity of FibroMeter test.