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Biomarkers of Fibrosis and Fibrosis Progression in Chronic Hepatitis C

  • Global Perspectives: Australia (W Sievert, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

The majority of patients exposed to the hepatitis C virus develop chronic infection. The morbidity and mortality associated with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is a consequence of progressive liver fibrosis, leading to cirrhosis, decompensated liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. As fibrosis is the key determinant of prognosis and influences treatment decisions and enrolment in surveillance programs, accurate assessment of fibrosis is crucial in the management of CHC. Currently liver biopsy is the “gold standard” for fibrosis assessment, but has a number of limitations including morbidity and mortality, sampling error and inter/intra-observer variability. The identification of non-invasive biomarkers of fibrosis has expanded rapidly over the last 10 years, providing an attractive alternative to liver biopsy. This article will review non-invasive biomarkers (serum biochemistry, imaging-based and genetic) for the assessment of fibrosis and fibrosis progression in CHC.

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Disclosure

JA Holmes: none; AJ Thompson: co-inventor of a patent related to the IL28B discovery; has worked as a consultant for Merck, Roche, and Janssen, has received grant support from Merck, Gilead Sciences, and Roche, as well as honoraria from Gilead Sciences, Roche, BMS, Merck, and Janssen. LA Adams: co-applicant on patents for Hepascore and is employed by the University of Western Australia, which has a licensing agreement with Quest Diagnostics Inc. regarding the commercialization of Hepascore; consultant for Merck, Roche, and Janssen, receives honoraria from Gilead Sciences, Roche, BMS, Merck, and Janssen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. St Vincent’s Hospital (Melbourne), Fitzroy, VIC, Australia, 3065

    Jacinta A. Holmes & Alexander J. Thompson

  2. University of Melbourne (Melbourne), Fitzroy, VIC, Australia, 3065

    Jacinta A. Holmes & Alexander J. Thompson

  3. Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    Alexander J. Thompson

  4. Department of Gastroenterology & Duke Clinical research Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

    Alexander J. Thompson

  5. School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia, 6009

    Leon A. Adams

  6. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia, 6009

    Leon A. Adams

Authors
  1. Jacinta A. Holmes
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  2. Alexander J. Thompson
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  3. Leon A. Adams
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Jacinta A. Holmes or Leon A. Adams.

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Holmes, J.A., Thompson, A.J. & Adams, L.A. Biomarkers of Fibrosis and Fibrosis Progression in Chronic Hepatitis C. Curr Hepatitis Rep 11, 231–242 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11901-012-0148-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11901-012-0148-0

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