ATA Index: A novel score for predicting fibrosis stage in chronic viral hepatitis

BACKGROUND AND AIM: This study was designed to predict the fibrosis stage with a clinical scoring system that may reduce the need for liver biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study cohort included the treatment of 430 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 170 chronic hepatitis C (CHC) of naive patients. The patients were divided into two groups as mild to moderate and severe fibrosis. After an index obtained in the study cohort, the index was tested in a validation cohort and compared with the FIB-4 Index. RESULTS: The AUC of CHC index was found of 0.89 the sensitivity of 0.91 the specificity of 0.74, the positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.54 and the negative predictive value (NPV) of 0.96. The FIB-4 Index was applied to the CHC study cohort and the ATA Index Hepatitis C was found to be superior in terms of AUC (0.89–0.82), sensitivity (0.91–0.76) and NPV (0.96–0.86). The AUC of CHB Index was determined of 0.92, the sensitivity of 0.90, the specificity of 0.84, the PPV of 0.53 and the NPV of 0.98. Compared to the FIB-4 Index in CHB study cohort, the ATA Index Hepatitis B was predominant in terms of AUC (0.92–0.88), sensitivity (0.90–0.75), NPV (0.98–0.94) and PPV (0.53–0.49). CONCLUSION: ATA Indexes can predict the non-existence of severe fibrosis with an accuracy similar to FIB-4 Index and may reduce the need for liver biopsy.