Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/1942/34199
Title: | Liver Fibrosis in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: From Liver Biopsy to Non-invasive Biomarkers in Diagnosis and Treatment | Authors: | HEYENS, Leen BUSSCHOTS, Dana Koek, Ger H. ROBAEYS, Geert Francque, Sven |
Issue Date: | 2021 | Publisher: | FRONTIERS MEDIA SA | Source: | Frontiers of Medicine, 8 (Art N° 615978) | Abstract: | An increasing percentage of people have or are at risk to develop non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) worldwide. NAFLD comprises different stadia going from isolated steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH is a chronic state of liver inflammation that leads to the transformation of hepatic stellate cells to myofibroblasts. These cells produce extra-cellular matrix that results in liver fibrosis. In a normal situation, fibrogenesis is a wound healing process that preserves tissue integrity. However, sustained and progressive fibrosis can become pathogenic. This process takes many years and is often asymptomatic. Therefore, patients usually present themselves with end-stage liver disease e.g., liver cirrhosis, decompensated liver disease or even hepatocellular carcinoma. Fibrosis has also been identified as the most important predictor of prognosis in patients with NAFLD. Currently, only a minority of patients with liver fibrosis are identified to be at risk and hence referred for treatment. This is not only because the disease is largely asymptomatic, but also due to the fact that currently liver biopsy is still the golden standard for accurate detection of liver fibrosis. However, performing a liver biopsy harbors some risks and requires resources and expertise, hence is not applicable in every clinical setting and is unsuitable for screening. Consequently, different non-invasive diagnostic tools, mainly based on analysis of blood or other specimens or based on imaging have been developed or are in development. In this review, we will first give an overview of the pathogenic mechanisms of the evolution from isolated steatosis to fibrosis. This serves as the basis for the subsequent discussion of the current and future diagnostic biomarkers and anti-fibrotic drugs. | Notes: | Francque, S (corresponding author), Antwerp Univ Hosp, Dept Gastroenterol & Hepatol, Antwerp, Belgium.; Francque, S (corresponding author), Univ Antwerp, Fac Med & Hlth Sci, Lab Expt Med & Paediat, Antwerp, Belgium. sven.francque@uza.be |
Other: | Francque, S (corresponding author), Antwerp Univ Hosp, Dept Gastroenterol & Hepatol, Antwerp, Belgium ; Univ Antwerp, Fac Med & Hlth Sci, Lab Expt Med & Paediat, Antwerp, Belgium. sven.francque@uza.be | Keywords: | NAFLD;liver fibrosis;liver biopsy;non-invasive assessment;liver stiffness | Document URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/1942/34199 | ISSN: | 2095-0217 | e-ISSN: | 2095-0225 | DOI: | 10.3389/fmed.2021.615978 | ISI #: | WOS:000644699200001 | Category: | A1 | Type: | Journal Contribution | Validations: | ecoom 2022 |
Appears in Collections: | Research publications |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
---|---|---|---|---|
fmed-08-615978.pdf | Published version | 1.86 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
WEB OF SCIENCETM
Citations
84
checked on Apr 30, 2024
Page view(s)
22
checked on May 20, 2022
Download(s)
8
checked on May 20, 2022
Google ScholarTM
Check
Altmetric
Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.