Non-invasive markers of hepatic fibrosis in patients co-infected with HCV and HIV: comparison of the APRI and FIB-4 index.

INTRODUCTION: The APRI and FIB-4 index are markers that have been proposed for the evaluation of hepatic fibrosis in patients co-infected with HIV and HCV.
METHODS: We retrospectively compared these 2 indices in 81 co-infected patients staged by liver biopsy.
RESULTS: The FIB-4 index was superior to the APRI for the differentiation of mild from significant fibrosis in both predictive values and area under the receiver operator curve (AUROC). The tests were comparable for the differentiation of mild/moderate from advanced fibrosis.
CONCLUSION: These tests could be used to evaluate co-infected patients for treatment, and exclude those that do not need periodic screening for hepatocellular carcinoma.