Impact of adefovir dipivoxil on liver fibrosis and activity assessed with biochemical markers (FibroTest-ActiTest) in patients infected by hepatitis B virus

The aim was to assess the utility of FibroTest-ActiTest (FT-AT) as noninvasive markers of histological changes in patients with chronic hepatitis. Patients with chronic hepatitis B (HBeAg+ and HBeAg-) randomized in two trials of adefovir (ADV) vs placebo, with available paired liver biopsies and FT-AT at baseline and after 48 weeks of treatment were included. The predictive value of FT-AT was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristics curves (AUROCs) for the diagnosis of bridging fibrosis, cirrhosis and moderate-severe necroinflammatory activity. The impact of treatment with ADV vs placebo was assessed on liver injury according to baseline stage and virological response at 48 weeks. The analysis of 924 estimates for the diagnosis of bridging fibrosis, cirrhosis and moderate or severe necroinflammatory activity yielded FT-AT AUROCs: 0.76 +/- 0.02 (standardized 0.81 +/- 0.02), 0.81 +/- 0.02 and 0.80 +/- 0.01, respectively. Similar impacts of ADV on liver fibrosis and activity were observed both with paired biopsy (fibrosis stage from 1.6 to 1.4, activity grade from 2.5 to 1.3) and paired biomarkers (FT from 0.44 to 0.40, AT from 0.62 to 0.25) (P < 0.0001). FibroTest-ActiTest provides a quantitative estimate of liver fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity in patients with chronic hepatitis B and may be an alternative to reduce the need for liver biopsy.