Non- invasive biochemical tests for prediction of severity of chronic hepatitis genotype 3 liver disease

My question is that
Can 5 biochemical lab tests predict the severity of chronic hepatitis C genotype 3 disease without having to undergo liver biopsy?
The tests are
1. AST: ALT
2. INR
3. APRI
4. Serum Albumin
5. Platelet count

[desrt]

If the IL28B test is available where you are, your money might be well spent in determining your own genotype and, if favorable, going ahead with tx regardless of your stage and grade.

[FlGuy]

To the extent that dashboard gauges can tell you the condition of your car's engine. For a complete examination of the condition, you need to pop the hood or hook its computer port to a sophisticated analyzer (fibroscan).

[desrt]

http://www.fairfoundation.org/news_letter/2010/02june/Fibrosure..pdf

"HCV FibroSURE is a noninvasive blood test that combines the
quantitative results of six serum biochemical markers, α2-macroglobulin,
haptoglobin, apolipoprotein A1, bilirubin, γ-glutamyl
transpeptidase (GGT), and ALT, with a patient’s age and gender..."

[ahm14]

Thanks for the trouble of answering.
Fibrosure is not easily available where I am. The other tests I mentioned are, as they are inexpensive and easily available. Question is how accurate are they?

[ahm14]

Thanks but popping the hood is risky and the other option is expensive.
  Nicely put though
:D

[desrt]

If the IL28B test is available where you are, your money might be well spent in determining your own genotype and, if favorable, going ahead with tx regardless of your stage and grade.

[ahm14]

What does this test figure out?
and Thanks again

[Bill1954]

The IL-28B test looks for a human genetic polymorphism and helps predict response for genotype 1 patients; however, I’m not sure if it’s appropriate for genotype 3:

http://people.genome.duke.edu/~dg48/L8464-0710-Service-Announcement-FINAL.pdf

Good luck—

--Bill

[Diane12855]

All of my liver enzyme tests were in the normal range for years. Then all of a sudden they went up last January and I found out that I was stage 2 and grade 2 as far as liver damage goes. To my mind that says that you can't put a whole lot of faith in the blood tests telling you how much damage your liver has sustained.

Yes, the biopsy is expensive but you will know the true condition of your liver then and be able to make an informed decision.

Diane

BTW... I've had HCV for at least 25 years.

[desrt]

http://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(10)00841-3/abstract

"An IL-28B polymorphism was associated with an SVR in patients infected with genotype 2/3 HCV who did not achieve a RVR. Analysis of IL-28B genotype might be used to guide treatment for these patients."

I tend to suspect that as we find out more about this polymorphism, we're going to see it used as a guide for 12 and 16 week courses of tx for 2s and 3s

[Bill1954]

Thanks desrt- I was previously unaware of this. I’ll save the link for others…

--Bill

[freenikita]

I think that a liver biopsy remains the golden star in testing for fibrosis and cirrhosis or the level of damage in your liver. Expensive.... Risky? I think the benefits of knowing and getting more accurate answers outlaws the risks. I am getting a biopsy as none of my blood tests have been conclusive and no apparent liver damage on my CT and abdomen scans. However, my platelets drop at 39 or 42, back up to 92 then down to 39 again. And I have seen doctors for months nobody has any answer or suggestion even. Good luck to you
Nikita

[freenikita]

Re fibrosure: I have heard that it is great in diagnosing very early or very late stages of liver damage but anything in between is grey area which questions the accuracy of any diagnostic of fibrosis or the status of  liver damage,,prediction, etc
Again, fibrosure is a great tool as you treat but I would not count on it as the reliable marker