Non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B

摘要: The goal of this review is to provide a comprehensive picture the role, clinical applications and future perspectives most widely used non-invasive techniques for evaluation hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. During past decade many methods have been developed reduce need liver biopsy in staging fibrosis overcome whenever possible its limitations, mainly: invasiveness, costs, low reproducibility, poor acceptance by patients. Elastographic conceived assess stiffness, particular transient elastography, commonly biological markers will be assessed against their respective role limitations hepatic fibrosis. Recent evidence highlights that both stiffness some bio-chemical correlate with survival major end-points such as decompensation, development hepatocellular carcinoma portal hypertension. Thus here discussed can play management patients chronic HBV-related hepatitis. Given prognostic value, elastography better categorize advanced cirrhosis assign them different classes risk clinically relevant outcomes. Very recent data indicates combined measurements spleen enable reliable prediction hypertension esophageal varices development.