Relationship between the Fibrotest and portal hypertension in patients with liver disease

The best technique to estimate portal hypertension (PHT) is to measure the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), which is an invasive method.

To assess the relationship between the Fibrotest (Biopredictive, Paris, France) and the presence and degree of PHT in patients with liver disease, and to determine if the Fibrotest can diagnose severe PHT, defined by HVPG >or= 12 mmHg, in cirrhotic patients.

Patients who underwent a transjugular liver biopsy were prospectively included. HVPG was measured, and classification of histological lesions assessed. The same day, blood samples for Fibrotest were performed.

A total of 130 patients were included (no or minimal fibrosis: 12%, moderate fibrosis 17%, cirrhosis 71%). There was a significant correlation between Fibrotest and HVPG (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.58, P < 0.0001), also weaker in cirrhotic patients (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.24, P = 0.02). In cirrhotic patients, Fibrotest was significantly higher when there was a severe PHT (0.87 +/- 0.15 vs. 0.73 +/- 0.14, respectively, P = 0.02). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the diagnosis of severe PHT was 0.79 +/- 0.07, not different from that of platelets and Child-Pugh score.

In patients with liver disease or cirrhosis, Fibrotest is correlated with the presence and degree of PHT. Other studies are needed to confirm these results, especially in non-decompensated cirrhotic patients.