FibroTest, transient elastography method, and combined FibroTest and transient elastography method for diagnosis of severe hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis in adults with chronic hepatitis C

This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of FibroTest, transient elastography method, combined FibroTest and transient elastography method, no matter the sequence, using liver biopsy as reference standard, for assessment of severe hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis in adults with chronic hepatitis C without any co-infections such as hepatitis B, HIV, and alcoholic liver disease. To compare the accuracy of FibroTest, transient elastography method, combined FibroTest and transient elastography method, for assessment of hepatic fibrosis in adults with chronic hepatitis C. To explore heterogeneity analysing the following study factors: different grade of inflammation according to the liver biopsy; different lengths of liver biopsy sample; different number of portal tracts included in a liver biopsy sample; different serum levels of ALT activity. different grade of inflammation according to the liver biopsy; different lengths of liver biopsy sample; different number of portal tracts included in a liver biopsy sample; different serum levels of ALT activity.