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Wet Biomarker-Based Assessment of Steatosis, Inflammation, and Fibrosis in NAFLD

  • Fatty Liver Disease (S Harrison and J George, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Hepatology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a disease on the rise; the severe form with steatohepatitis (NASH) may progress to liver cirrhosis with increased morbidity and mortality. Non-invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis of NASH with fibrosis are an area of intensive research. We review the current literature and new research on wet biomarkers for the diagnosis of NASH and fibrosis.

Recent Findings

A number of single parameters as well as composite scores show acceptable efficacy for the prediction of NASH and fibrosis. Composite scores generally use parameters that are usually easily accessible or commercially available. Other markers include the apoptosis marker CK-18, the macrophage activation marker soluble (s)CD163, and others.

Summary

From a clinical point of view, the FIB-4 and NAFLD fibrosis score perform well and are easily accessible compared to some of the commercially available tests. CK-18 and sCD163 are promising for both NASH diagnosis and resolution but need further validation and assay standardisation. The combination of these biomarkers with imaging techniques, e.g. fibroscan, may work synergistically to improve NASH diagnosis and follow-up in the future.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Aarhus University Hospital, 44 Noerrebrogade, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Aarhus, Denmark

    Peter Lykke Eriksen, Karen Louise Thomsen, Tea Lund Laursen, Konstantin Kazankov, Sara Heebøll & Henning Grønbæk

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  1. Peter Lykke Eriksen
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  2. Karen Louise Thomsen
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  3. Tea Lund Laursen
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  4. Konstantin Kazankov
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  5. Sara Heebøll
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  6. Henning Grønbæk
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Correspondence to Henning Grønbæk.

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Conflict of Interest

Peter Lykke Eriksen, Karen Louise Thomsen, Tea Lund Laursen, Konstantin Kazankov, and Sara Heebøll each declares no potential conflicts of interest.

Henning Grønbæk reports grants from Intercept and Abbvie and personal fees from Ipsen, Novartis, and Sanofi.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Fatty Liver Disease

Peter Lykke Eriksen and Karen Louise Thomsen shared first co-authorship.

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Eriksen, P.L., Thomsen, K.L., Laursen, T.L. et al. Wet Biomarker-Based Assessment of Steatosis, Inflammation, and Fibrosis in NAFLD. Curr Hepatology Rep 16, 308–316 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11901-017-0369-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11901-017-0369-3

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