To determine the diagnostic accuracy of aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index in detecting significant fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients by using histopathology as gold standard.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to: determine the diagnostic accuracy of AST to platelet ratio index in detecting significant fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients by using histopathology as gold standard. Study Design: Cross Sectional study. Settings: Department of Medicine, DHQ Hospital, Faisalabad. Period: 1^st Oct 2017 to March 2018. Results: In this study, out of 158 cases, 48.73%(n=77) were between 25-40 years while 51.27%(n=81) were between 41-60 years, mean+SD was calculated as 40.94+9.10 years, 55.06%(n=87) were male and 44.94%(n=71) were females, mean AST and platelet count was calculated as 1.68+0.54 and 191.0+43.75, frequency of significant fibroids in chronic hepatitis C patients by using histopathology as gold standard reveals as 53.16%(n=84) while 46.84%(n=74) had no findings of this morbidity. The diagnostic accuracy of AST to platelet ratio index in detecting significant fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients by using histopathology as gold standard was recorded which shows 51.27%(n=81) as true positive, 2.53%(n=4) false positive, 1.89%(n=3) false negative and 44.31%(n=70) were recorded as true negative, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy rate was computed as 96.43%, 94.59%, 95.29%, 95.89% and 95.57% respectively. Conclusion: The results of the study reveal that diagnostic accuracy of AST to platelet ratio for detection of significant fibrosis in chronic Hepatitis C patients was satisfactory and it may be used for the avoidance of invasive liver biopsy to initiate the antiviral therapy in these patients.