Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to investigate prediction of significant liver fibrosis (SLF) by FibroTouch detection in combination with aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) score in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Methods A total of 110 patients with PBC were encountered in out hospital between June 2021 and June 2025, all underwent FibroTouch detection for liver stiffness measurement (LSM), and APRI was calculated based clinical materials. Liver biopsies were performed and liver fibrosis was determined by Ludwig staging system. Predicting efficacy was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results Of the 110 patients with PBC, liver histopathological examination found liver fibrosis S0 in 18 cases, S1 in 25 cases, S2 in 32 cases, S3 in 21 cases and S4 in 14 cases, e.g., SLF in 67 cases and non-SLF (NSLF) in 43 cases; with the progression of liver fibrosis staging, LSM and APRI score increased gradually in PBC patients, e.g., LSM and APRI scores in S0, S1, S2, S3 and S4 were [(5.0±1.1) kPa and (0.3±0.1)], [(6.8±1.3) kPa and (0.5±0.2)], [(9.2±2.0) kPa and (0.8±0.3)], [(12.4±2.7) kPa and (1.4±0.5)] and [(15.8±3.6) kPa and (2.1±0.6)], respectively, with statistically significantly different among different stage groups (P<0.05); ROC analysis showed that the specificity (Sp) was 94.4% by LSM alone in predicting SLF in patients with PBC, while sensitivity was 81.5% and Sp was 83.7% by combination of LSM and APRI score. Conclusion FibroTouch technology in combination with APRI score could preliminarily evaluate SLF in patients with PBC, which might guide clinicians for further interventions.

Key words: Primary biliary cholangitis, Liver stiffness measurement, Aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index, Liver fibrosis, Diagnosis