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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 21, 2014; 20(11): 2854-2866
Published online Mar 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i11.2854
Non-invasive diagnosis of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C
Leonardo de Lucca Schiavon, Janaína Luz Narciso-Schiavon, Roberto José de Carvalho-Filho
Leonardo de Lucca Schiavon, Janaína Luz Narciso-Schiavon, Gastroenterology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC 88040-900, Brazil
Roberto José de Carvalho-Filho, Gastroenterology Division, Department of Medicine, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP 04023-900, Brazil
Author contributions: Schiavon LL, Narciso-Schiavon JL and Carvalho-Filho RJ contributed equally to this work, designed the review and wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Leonardo de Lucca Schiavon, MD, PhD, Gastroenterology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 3 andar, Trindade, Florianópolis, SC 88040-900, Brazil. leo-jf@uol.com.br
Telephone: +55-48-37219149 Fax: +55-48-37219014
Received: October 29, 2013
Revised: December 10, 2013
Accepted: January 14, 2014
Published online: March 21, 2014
Abstract

Assessment of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is considered a relevant part of patient care and key for decision making. Although liver biopsy has been considered the gold standard for staging liver fibrosis, it is an invasive technique and subject to sampling errors and significant intra- and inter-observer variability. Over the last decade, several noninvasive markers were proposed for liver fibrosis diagnosis in chronic HCV infection, with variable performance. Besides the clear advantage of being noninvasive, a more objective interpretation of test results may overcome the mentioned intra- and inter-observer variability of liver biopsy. In addition, these tests can theoretically offer a more accurate view of fibrogenic events occurring in the entire liver with the advantage of providing frequent fibrosis evaluation without additional risk. However, in general, these tests show low accuracy in discriminating between intermediate stages of fibrosis and may be influenced by several hepatic and extra-hepatic conditions. These methods are either serum markers (usually combined in a mathematical model) or imaging modalities that can be used separately or combined in algorithms to improve accuracy. In this review we will discuss the different noninvasive methods that are currently available for the evaluation of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C, their advantages, limitations and application in clinical practice.

Keywords: Liver fibrosis, Liver cirrhosis, Hepatitis C, Diagnosis, Elasticity imaging techniques

Core tip: There is increased interest in non-invasive markers of fibrosis, especially in chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Although several methodologies have been proposed over the last few years, the limited availability and concerns regarding the true accuracy of these techniques has restricted their clinical application. In this review we will discuss the different noninvasive methods that are currently available for the evaluation of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C, their advantages, limitations and application in clinical practice.