Evaluation of FibroTest-ActiTest in children with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

FibroTest-ActiTest (FT-AT) has been validated in adults with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection as a noninvasive alternative to liver biopsy (LB), but there are few data of its use in children. The objective of the present study was to evaluate FT-AT in children with HCV infection and to compare FT-AT analysis with liver histology. A total of 43 serum samples from 38 children with chronic HCV infection were analyzed retrospectively. Histological evaluation was performed according to the METAVIR scoring system. In 16 of the children, 21 serum samples were tested with FT-AT and compared to 21 LB (serum/LB pairs) in nontransplanted and liver-transplanted children. FT-AT was also measured in 22 infected children without LB and in 50 healthy controls. FT-AT values in controls were comparable to those of healthy adults, validating the adult FT-AT parameters in children. In most infected children (74%), the FT-AT score was <= A1-F1. Concordance between FT-AT and METAVIR scores was found in 10 pairs and discordance in 11. FT-AT/METAVIR concordance was better in non-transplanted (8/13 pairs, 62%) than in transplanted (2/8 pairs, 25%) children. A prospective evaluation of FT-AT in non-transplanted children with chronic HCV infection would be worthwhile in future. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.