PLATELETS, ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE, TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR-α: LABORATORY PANEL FOR DIAGNOSIS OF LIVER FIBROSIS STAGE

Aim. To study significance of platelet count and values of aspartate aminotransferase and tumor necrosis factor-α in the evaluation of the severity of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C and for the development of fibrosis index calculation formula.Material and Methods. The study included 70 patients with chronic hepatitis C end 30 healthy persons. Liver density was estimated by ultrasound elastography.Results. The correlation analysis revealed strong relationships between the ultrasound elastography findings of fibrosis stage and the platelet count (r=0.83), aspartate aminotransferase (r=0.83), and tumor necrosis factor-α (r=0.81). The optimal separation points of laboratory tests for fibrosis exclusion were identified as follows: platelet count>270×109 /L (test sensitivity=96.2%), aspartate aminotransferase level2.5 corresponded to the severe fibrosis/cirrhosis of the liver (F3-4) with diagnostic sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 78%.Conclusion. Platelet count, the values of aspartate aminotransferase and tumor necrosis factor-α levels, fibrosis index, and laboratory test data can be used for ruling out fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients as well as for stratification of liver fibrosis stages.