Noninvasive diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C.
Assessment of hepatic fibrosis is important for determining prognosis, guiding management decisions, and monitoring disease. Histological evaluation of liver biopsy specimens is currently considered the reference test for staging hepatic fibrosis. Since liver biopsy carries a small but significant risk, noninvasive tests to assess hepatic fibrosis are desirable. This editorial gives an overview on noninvasive methods currently available to determine hepatic fibrosis and their diagnostic accuracy for predicting significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C. Based on available data, the performance of simple tests derived from routine laboratory parameters appears to be similar to that of more complex and expensive fibrosis panels. Transient elastography seems more accurate than blood tests for diagnosing cirrhosis.
Stauber
Rudolf-E
RE
Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, A-8036 Graz, Austria. rudolf.stauber@meduni-graz.at
Lackner
Carolin
C
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001706:Biopsy; D004548:Elasticity; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
D015415:Biomarkers
J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2000 Aug;15(8):945-51
11022838
Gut. 2006 Mar;55(3):403-8
16020491
Hepatology. 2007 May;45(5):1290-7
17464971
Hepatology. 2006 May;43(5):1118-24
16628644
World J Gastroenterol. 2005 Jan 28;11(4):476-81
15641129
Hepatology. 1996 Jun;23(6):1334-40
8675148
Hepatology. 2003 Aug;38(2):481-92
12883493
Liver Transpl. 2006 Dec;12(12):1791-8
16823833
Gastroenterology. 2005 Feb;128(2):343-50
15685546
Radiology. 2006 May;239(2):425-37
16641352
Hepatology. 2002 Oct;36(4 Pt 1):986-92
12297848
Hepatology. 2004 Apr;39(4):1147-71
15057920
Clin Chem. 2005 Oct;51(10):1867-73
16055434
Hepatology. 2005 Oct;42(4):838-45
16121354
AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2007 Mar;188(3):758-64
17312065
Clin Chem. 2006 Oct;52(10):1887-96
16931569
J Hepatol. 1995 Jun;22(6):696-9
7560864
Ultrasound Med Biol. 2003 Dec;29(12 ):1705-13
14698338
Hepatology. 2006 Dec;44(6):1511-7
17133503
J Hepatol. 2006 Mar;44(3):462-74
16427156
Liver Int. 2006 Nov;26(9):1095-9
17032410
Semin Liver Dis. 2006 Nov;26(4):337-47
17051448
J Hepatol. 2007 Apr;46(4):628-34
17258346
Clin Chem. 1996 Apr;42(4):558-63
8605673
Am J Clin Pathol. 2006 May;125(5):710-21
16707372
Clin Chim Acta. 2002 Feb;316(1-2):71-81
11750276
Gastroenterology. 1988 Sep;95(3):734-9
3135226
Liver Int. 2005 Aug;25(4):779-86
15998429
BMC Gastroenterol. 2006 Feb 14;6:6
16503961
J Hepatol. 2003 Aug;39(2):239-44
12873821
J Hepatol. 2007 Mar;46(3):395-402
17156890
J Viral Hepat. 1997 May;4(3):199-208
9181529
Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2007 Mar 15;25(6):733-9
17311607
Hepatology. 2007 Feb;45(2):297-306
17256741
J Hepatol. 2003 Feb;38(2):223-9
12547412
Hepatology. 2005 Aug;42(2):282-92
15986415
Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 1999 Aug;11(8):827-31
10514112
Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2006 Dec;18(12 ):1321-5
17099382
Gastroenterology. 1990 Nov;99(5):1396-400
2101588
Gut. 2006 Mar;55(3):409-14
16118349
Hepatology. 2003 Aug;38(2):518-26
12883497
Clin Chem. 2003 Mar;49(3):450-4
12600957
J Hepatol. 2004 Dec;41(6):935-42
15582126
Hepatology. 1981 Sep-Oct;1(5):431-5
7308988
Hepatology. 2005 Jun;41(6):1376-82
15915455
Transplantation. 1993 May;55(5):1087-90
8497887
Eur J Clin Invest. 1979 Dec;9(6):451-9
119643
Dig Dis Sci. 2001 Aug;46(8):1684-9
11508668
Am J Gastroenterol. 2006 Mar;101(3):547-55
16542291
Hepatology. 2005 Dec;42(6):1373-81
16317693
Am J Gastroenterol. 1997 Aug;92(8):1302-4
9260794
Am J Gastroenterol. 2004 Feb;99(2):271-9
15046217
Hepatology. 2003 Dec;38(6):1449-57
14647056
J Viral Hepat. 2006 Oct;13(10):659-70
16970597
Arch Intern Med. 2003 Jan 27;163(2):218-24
12546613
J Hepatol. 2006 Apr;44(4):686-93
16490278
Hepatology. 2006 Feb;43(2 Suppl 1):S113-20
16447288
Lancet. 2001 Apr 7;357(9262):1069-75
11297957
Hepatology. 1994 Jul;20(1 Pt 1):15-20
8020885
J Hepatol. 2007 Mar;46(3):528-9; author reply 529-30
17239479
Hepatology. 1994 Jun;19(6):1513-20
8188183
Dig Dis Sci. 1999 Mar;44(3):624-30
10080160
Hepatology. 2005 Jan;41(1):48-54
15690481
Am J Gastroenterol. 2002 Oct;97(10):2614-8
12385448
Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2005 Feb;3(2):167-74
15704051
J Clin Gastroenterol. 2006 Jul;40(6):521-7
16825935
Dig Dis Sci. 2003 Jan;48(1):146-53
12645802
Gastroenterology. 2004 Dec;127(6):1704-13
15578508