Diagnostic accuracy of the 13C-methacetin breath test and noninvasive biochemical blood tests in predicting hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C

Aims: The 13C-methacetin breath test and several also noninvasive blood tests comprising routine laboratory parameters have been proposed to predict fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C. The aim of the study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy between these tests referring to hepatic histology as gold standard. Methods: 96 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection, but without clinical evidence of cirrhosis underwent percutaneous liver biopsy in Menghini technique and the 13C-methacetin breath test. The FibroIndex, the AST to platelet ratio index (APRI), and the AST to APT ratio (AAR) were us…