Diagnostic value of serum type IV collagen test in comparison with platelet count for predicting the fibrotic stage in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Background and Aim: The serum type IV collagen test is now used as a diagnostic aid for the detection of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Recently, a platelet count has been reported to be a useful marker for assessing the fibrotic stage in chronic hepatitis C. The aim of this study was to compare the usefulness of the serum type IV collagen test and platelet count for diagnosing the fibrotic stage in chronic hepatitis C patients. Methods: The diagnostic values were assessed by the use of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis in 165 patients with chronic hepatitis C, with the exception of those patients with cirrhosis. Results: The serum type IV collagen level increased, and the platelet count decreased significantly with the progression of fibrosis staging. As judged from ROC curves, the serum type IV collagen test was more useful than the platelet count for differentiating moderate or severe fibrosis from no or mild fibrosis. At a cut-off value of 110 ng/mL, the serum type IV collagen test had an overall diagnostic accuracy of 75%, while at a cut-off value of 16 x 10(4)/mm(3), the platelet count had a diagnostic accuracy of 70%. The serum type IV collagen test and platelet count were similar in differentiating severe fibrosis from no, mild or moderate fibrosis. Both serum type IV collagen (at a cut-off value of 130 ng/mL) and platelet count (at a cut-off value of 14 x 10(4) /mm(3)) had a diagnostic accuracy of 73%. Conclusion: The serum type IV collagen test was slightly superior to the platelet count for assessing the fibrotic stage in patients with chronic hepatitis C. (C) 2001 Blackwell Science Asia Pty Ltd.