Quantification of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B virus infection.
Chronic hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) is considered a global public issue with more than 78.000 people per year dying of its evolution. With liver transplantation as the only viable therapeutic option but only in end-stage disease, hepatitis B progression may generally be influenced by various factors. Assessing fibrosis stage plays an important part in future decisions on the patients' wealth with available antiviral agents capable of preventing fibrosis passing to an end-stage liver disease. Several methods have been taken into consideration as an alternative for HBV quantification status, such as imaging techniques and serum based biomarkers. Magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, and elastography are considered non-invasive imaging techniques frequently used to quantify disease progression as well as patients future prognostic. Consequently, both direct and indirect biomarkers have been studied for differentiating between fibrosis stages. This paper reviews the current standings in HBV non-invasive liver fibrosis quantification, presenting the prognostic factors and available assessment procedures that might eventually replace liver biopsy.
Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Craiova, Romania.
C F
CF
Jieanu
Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Craiova, Romania.
B S
BS
Ungureanu
Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Craiova, Romania.
D L
DL
Săndulescu
Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Craiova, Romania.
I A
IA
Gheonea
Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Craiova, Romania.
D R
DR
Tudorașcu
Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Craiova, Romania.
M E
ME
Ciurea
"Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
V L
VL
Purcărea
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000821:virology
D015415:Biomarkers
HBV; end-stage liver disease; fibrosis; non-invasive methods