title: Liver fibrosis in human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus coinfection: Diagnostic methods and clinical impact.
abstract: Several non-invasive surrogate methods have recently challenged the main role of liver biopsy in assessing liver fibrosis in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-monoinfected and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV-coinfected patients, applied to avoid the well-known side effects of liver puncture. Serological tests involve the determination of biochemical markers of synthesis or degradation of fibrosis, tests not readily available in clinical practice, or combinations of routine tests used in chronic hepatitis and HIV/HCV coinfection. Several radiologic techniques have also been proposed, some of which commonly used in clinical practice. The studies performed to compare the prognostic value of non-invasive surrogate methods with that of the degree of liver fibrosis assessed on liver tissue have not as yet provided conclusive results. Each surrogate technique has shown some limitations, including the risk of over- or under-estimating the extent of liver fibrosis. The current knowledge on liver fibrosis in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients will be summarized in this review article, which is addressed in particular to physicians involved in this setting in their clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Caterina Sagnelli, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Surgery "F. Magrassi e A. Lanzara, Second University of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sagnelli
authors.affiliation: Caterina Sagnelli, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Surgery "F. Magrassi e A. Lanzara, Second University of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.affiliation: Caterina Sagnelli, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Surgery "F. Magrassi e A. Lanzara, Second University of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariantonietta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pisaturo
authors.affiliation: Caterina Sagnelli, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Surgery "F. Magrassi e A. Lanzara, Second University of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pasquale
authors.affiliation: Caterina Sagnelli, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Surgery "F. Magrassi e A. Lanzara, Second University of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Macera
authors.affiliation: Caterina Sagnelli, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Surgery "F. Magrassi e A. Lanzara, Second University of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zampino
authors.affiliation: Caterina Sagnelli, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Surgery "F. Magrassi e A. Lanzara, Second University of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.affiliation: Caterina Sagnelli, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Surgery "F. Magrassi e A. Lanzara, Second University of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Evangelista
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sagnelli
keywords: Fibroscan; Human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus coinfection; Liver biopsy; Liver fibrosis; Liver ultrasonography