Abstract

Due to the increasing incidence and prevalence of patients with chronic liver diseases, especially hepatitis B and / or hepatitis C virus infection, we need advanced medical instruments for measuring liver fibrosis and prognosis estimation, necessary to establish standardized indications for antiviral therapy and to monitor the response to therapy.

We will review the methods for assessing liver morphology: invasive methods (liver biopsy, currently considered the “gold standard” in the diagnosing and staging of chronic liver disease) and new noninvasive methods for assessment of the liver, such as: serum biomarkers, elastography, Fibrotest, Fibromax, Hepascore, APRI (AST / pallets ratio index), ASPRI (age-spleen-platelet index), ELF (the European Liver fibrosis panel), ARFI (Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Imaging), S-index.

Keywords

chronic liver disease, liver biopsy, noninvasive methods for hepatic assessment