Fib-4 Index: Diagnostic Validity for Predicting Hepatic Fibrosis in South East Asian Patients of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus (Hcv) Genotype 3 Infection

Objectives: To assess the diagnostic validity of FIB-4 for predicting hepaticfibrosis in patients of chronic hepatitis C genotype 3. Study Design: Cross-sectional study.Setting: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Isra University Hospital, Hyderabadthrough convenient sampling. Period: June 2013 to June 2014. Methods: Diagnostic validity ofFIB-4 index for predicting hepatic fibrosis was determined by measuring sensitivity, specificity,positive productive, negative predictive value, and compared these parameters with liverbiopsy. The liver histology was determined by METAVIR score. Results: A total 115 patientswere enrolled with mean and SD of age was 39.6 ± 9.3 years. Dividing FIB-4 index into threecategories as <1.45, 1.45 - 3.25, and >3.25; by using the Obuchowski method the AUROC was0.93 (with 95% CI 0.91, 0.95). When dividing the FIB-4 index in to three categories as <1.45,1.45 - <2.25 and >2.25; the AUROC by using Obuchowski method was 0.87 (with 95% CI 0.83,0.91). Similarly for the diagnosis of Cirrhosis (F = 4 METAVIR) on the predictive value of thenon-invasive test FIB-4 while using Obuchowski method the AUROC was 0.85 (with 95% CI0.83, 0.87). Conclusion: The FIB-4 index is a simple, inexpensive, non-invasive, and a quicktest for predicting liver fibrosis in patients of chronic Hepatitis C genotype 3.