Comparison and correlation of fibrosis stage assessment by collagen proportionate area (CPA) and the ELF panel in patients with chronic liver disease

BACKGROUND: Fibrosis progression is the common consequence of most chronic liver diseases. AIMS: To evaluate the performance of Collagen Proportionate Area (CPA) and ELF using Ishak's score in patients with chronic liver diseases. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of medical data from patients on whom a liver biopsy was performed as part of the diagnostic assessment. CPA was calculated by using digital image analysis and then compared with Ishak and ELF scores. RESULTS: 143 patients (84 men (59%); mean age 48.8 ± 12.8 years) were evaluated. Patients were mainly affected by viral hepatitis (92 HCV and 8 HBV). CPA and ELF values increased with worsening Ishak stage (P < 0.001) and their median values were significantly different among Ishak stages (P < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between CPA and ELF (r = 0.5). In AUROC analysis, CPA and ELF had similar diagnostic accuracy in identifying cirrhosis, but CPA had higher diagnostic accuracy than ELF in identifying significant or absent fibrosis. High ELF scores were observed in non-cirrhotic patients who suffered non-liver related deaths. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that CPA and ELF values successfully identified patients with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis, thus confirming the role of ELF as a clinical method for non-invasive assessment of fibrosis stage in chronic hepatitis