Non-invasive measures of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C: Fibroscan versus Fibrotest
March 29, 2010
| Abstract Title: | Non-invasive measures of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C: Fibroscan versus Fibrotest |
| Authors: | Veronica-Andrea Grec, Eftimie Miutescu, Domsa Gheorghe, Liana Mos |
| Affiliation: | “Vasile Goldis” Western University of Arad, Romania |
| Abstract text: | Liver fibrosis is the principal feature of the injury caused by chronic liver disease and determines the major clinical events that lead to liver-related deaths. For this reason alone, an accurate assessment of fibrosis is vital to the management of patients with liver disease. For 60 years, liver biopsy has been regarded as the gold standard diagnostic for assessing the progression of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients. As a result of these drawbacks to liver biopsy, interest continues to grow in new, non-invasive methods of assessing fibrosis, including biochemical markers, biomarkers, and new imaging techniques. One such advance in the field is Fibroscan, a type of ultrasound machine that uses transient elastography to measure liver stiffness. This value can be extrapolated to a fibrosis score. Fibrotest is another non-invasive diagnostic for assessing fibrosis. If as expected, new antivirals become available for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, there will be an increasing need to assess fibrosis as a method of monitoring the effect of these treatments. Liver biopsy no doubt will continue to be employed in the diagnosis, grading and assessment of chronic liver disease. Yet despite a continuing role for liver biopsy, non-invasive methods likely will soon become the diagnostic of choice for assessing liver fibrosis. |
| Keywords: | liver fibrosis, chronic hepatitis C, Fibroscan, Fibrotest |
| Presentation type: | Oral |
| Correspondence: | no. 1 Nalbei St., Arad, Romania |
| Email: | vero_grec2007@yahoo.com |
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