Cairo University fibrosis index (CUFI): A score based on microRNA for diagnosis of significant hepatic fibrosis

Introduction: Identification of HCV- induced liver fibrosis is mandatory for tailoring therapy, and management of complications. The current study evaluated the accuracy of circulating miRNAs; in diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis. Patients and methods: Seventy HCV patients were subjected to routine laboratory investigations, HCV-RNA, serum miRNA-122, 221, 192, 224 , 375, and 885 by PCR, liver biopsy and calculation of the following scores: aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio (AAR), aspartate to platelet ratio index (APRI), FIB-4 score, Hui index, Fibrosis Index (FI), Fibro-Q , Fibro-Alfa Biotechnology Research Center (BRC) score and Gotebörg University Cirrhosis Index (GUCI). Results: Patients with significant and advanced fibrosis have significantly lower miR-122 (P < 0.0001 and P= 0.007, respectively). miR-122, bilirubin and miR-855 were found to be independent predictors of significant fibrosis in univariate analysis. A novel score; Cairo University Fibrosis Index (CUFI) based on microRNA 122, bilirubin and microRNA 855 were formulated for predicting significant liver fibrosis. The AUC of this score, for predicting significant and advanced hepatic fibrosis was 0.83 and 0.80 respectively. This AUC was higher than those of other fibrosis scores. Conclusion: Cairo University Fibrosis Index is better than the existing scores in assessing fibrosis in chronic HCV patients.