Noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis

[Guest guest]

Hepatology. 2011 Jan;53(1):325-35. doi: 10.1002/hep.24013. Epub 2010 Nov 29.

Noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis.

Martínez SM, Crespo G, Navasa M, Forns X.

Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS (Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques

August Pi i Sunyer) and CIBERehd (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de

Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas), Barcelona, Spain.

Abstract

Liver biopsy has long been an important tool for assessing the degree of liver

fibrosis. Information on the presence and degree of liver fibrosis is useful

before making therapeutic decisions or predicting disease outcomes. The need to

stage liver fibrosis, however, should decrease as treatment options become more

successful (as has occurred with viral hepatitis). In recent years, noninvasive

tests have demonstrated a reasonable ability to identify significant fibrosis,

cirrhosis in particular, nor is it surprising that liver disease specialists and

patients favor a noninvasive approach. However, only those tests with the

highest diagnostic accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and availability should be

implemented. Apart from their diagnostic accuracy, the potential ability of

these tests to predict disease outcomes (a more relevant endpoint) should be

compared with that of liver biopsy. Indeed, the use of a standardized system to

evaluate the utility of biomarkers would facilitate their implementation in

clinical practice.

American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

PMID: 21254180 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Guest guest]

Hepatology. 2011 Jan;53(1):325-35. doi: 10.1002/hep.24013. Epub 2010 Nov 29.

Noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis.

Martínez SM, Crespo G, Navasa M, Forns X.

Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS (Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques

August Pi i Sunyer) and CIBERehd (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de

Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas), Barcelona, Spain.

Abstract

Liver biopsy has long been an important tool for assessing the degree of liver

fibrosis. Information on the presence and degree of liver fibrosis is useful

before making therapeutic decisions or predicting disease outcomes. The need to

stage liver fibrosis, however, should decrease as treatment options become more

successful (as has occurred with viral hepatitis). In recent years, noninvasive

tests have demonstrated a reasonable ability to identify significant fibrosis,

cirrhosis in particular, nor is it surprising that liver disease specialists and

patients favor a noninvasive approach. However, only those tests with the

highest diagnostic accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and availability should be

implemented. Apart from their diagnostic accuracy, the potential ability of

these tests to predict disease outcomes (a more relevant endpoint) should be

compared with that of liver biopsy. Indeed, the use of a standardized system to

evaluate the utility of biomarkers would facilitate their implementation in

clinical practice.

American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

PMID: 21254180 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]