Evaluation of red cell distribution width to platelet ratio as a novel non-invasive index for predicting hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C

• Published in: Arab journal of gastroenterology 2021-03, Vol.22 (1), p.6-11
• Main Authors: Ramzy, Iman, Fouad, Rabab, Salama, Rabab, Abdellatif, Zeinab, Elsharkawy, Aisha, Zayed, Naglaa, Elsharkawy, Marwa, El Akel, Wafaa, Bakheet, Nader
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: APRI; Chronic HCV; Fib-4; RPR
• ISSN: 1687-1979; 2090-2387
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajg.2020.12.003

Assessing the extent of fibrosis is an essential part of therapeutic decisions in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Liver biopsies are the “gold standard” for evaluating liver fibrosis but have many limitations. Thus, noninvasive predictors of fibrosis have been developed. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of red cell distribution width (RDW) to platelet ratio as a simple noninvasive method for predicting the hepatic fibrosis stage in patients with CHC. This cross-sectional study included 197 Egyptian patients with CHC. A routine pretreatment reference needle liver biopsy was performed. Fib-4, transient elastography (TE) by Fibroscan, AST to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI), and RDW to platelet ratio (RPR) were measured. Predictors of significant fibrosis (Metavir score ≥ F2) and advanced fibrosis (Metavir score ≥ F3) were identified. Fib-4, TE, APRI, and RPR values differed significantly when comparing different stages of fibrosis (p