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Review
. 2020 Sep 13;10(9):198.
doi: 10.3390/life10090198.

Noninvasive Tests (NITs) for Hepatic Fibrosis in Fatty Liver Syndrome

Ma Ai Thanda Han  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Noninvasive Tests (NITs) for Hepatic Fibrosis in Fatty Liver Syndrome

Ma Ai Thanda Han. Life (Basel). .

Abstract

Fatty liver syndrome is an emerging health problem in the world, due to the high prevalence of obesity and alcohol use disorder. Given the nature of the disease's advancement to cirrhosis and liver-related complications, it is important to assess the severity of the disease, which is typically done via a liver biopsy. Due to the limitations and risks of liver biopsy, the role of noninvasive tests is essential and evolving to stratify the stage of the liver disease, predict the outcomes, and/or monitor the treatment response. This review is focused on noninvasive tests, including the use of serum-based biomarkers, ultrasound-based shear wave elastography, transient elastography, and magnetic resonance elastography in both clinical and research settings.

Keywords: alcoholic liver disease; fatty liver syndrome; hepatic fibrosis; hepatic steatosis; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author declares no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Algorithm to assess hepatic fibrosis. NFS = NAFLD fibrosis score, AAR = AST/ALT ratio, TE = transient Elastography, MRE = magnetic resonance elastography. Figure 1 is adapted from previously published articles.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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