Noninvasive diagnosis of liver fibrosis in patients with HIV infection and HCV/HBV co-infection

• Published in: Journal of viral hepatitis Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 249 - 258
• Main Authors: Moreno, S., García-Samaniego, J., Moreno, A., Ortega, E., Pineda, J. A., Del Romero, J., Tural, C., Von Wichmann, M. A., Berenguer, J., Castro, Á., Espacio, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-04-2009
• Subjects: Biomarkers - blood; Elasticity Imaging Techniques - methods; elastometry; Hepatitis B - complications; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis C - complications; Hepatitis C virus; HIV Infections - complications; HIV/HCV co-infection; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; liver biopsy; Liver Cirrhosis - diagnosis; liver fibrosis; Prognosis; serum markers; Severity of Illness Index
• ISSN: 1352-0504; 1365-2893
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2009.01088.x

The measurement of fibrosis stage critically affects the identification of the progression of liver disease, the establishment of a prognosis and therapeutic decision making. Liver biopsy has been the single, most useful method to determine the degree of liver fibrosis (LF), but with recognized limitations, mainly associated with its invasiveness. In recent years, alternative noninvasive methods have been developed, including imaging methods, such as transient elastometry, and assays based on serum biomarkers. This article reviews the available studies evaluating the value of various noninvasive methods for the assessment of LF in patients with HIV‐infection and HBV/HCV co‐infection, and makes recommendations on how to best use and combine them in clinical practice.