A Prospective Analysis of the Prognostic Value of Biomarkers (FibroTest) in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

suring biomarkers of liver fibrosis, is an alternative to liver biopsy for determining the severity of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We compared the 5-year prognostic value of the FibroTest with biopsy staging for predicting cirrhosis decompensation and survival in patients with chronic HCV infection. Methods: Fibrosis stage was assessed on the same day by FibroTest and biopsy in a prospective cohort of 537 patients. Disease classification at baseline was 157 pa-tients with severe fibrosis (FibroTest>0.58), 137 with moderate fibrosis (FibroTest 0.32–0.58), and 243 with no or minimal fibrosis (FibroTest <0.32). Results: In 64 untreated patients with severe fibrosis, survival without HCV complications was 73 % [95% confidence interval (CI), 59%–086%; 13 complications], and survival without HCV-related death was 85 % (95% CI, 73%–96%; 7 HCV deaths). Survival rates were higher in patients with moderate fibrosis, [99 % (95 % CI, 97%– 100%; 1 complication; P <0.001) and 100 % (no HCV death; P <0.001) for patients with and without HCV-related complications, respectively], and in patients with minimal fibrosis [100 % (no complication; P <0.001 vs severe) and 100 % (no HCV death; P<0.001 vs severe), respectively]. FibroTest was a better predictor than biopsy staging for HCV complications, with area unde