Liver Fibrosis and Chronic Viral Hepatitis

Archives of Medical Research

Volumn 38, Issue 6, 2007, Pages 644-651

  Gutierrez Reyes, Gabriela ^a   Gutierrez Ruiz, Maria Concepcion ^b   Kershenobich, David ^a  

^a UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL AUTÓNOMA DE MÉXICO   (Mexico)

^b UNIVERSIDAD AUTÓNOMA METROPOLITANA   (Mexico)

Author keywords

Diagnosis; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C; Liver fibrosis

Indexed keywords

ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE; ANGIOTENSIN; ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE; CORE PROTEIN; INTERLEUKIN 10; MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE; MONTIRELIN; NONSTRUCTURAL PROTEIN 5A; TISSUE INHIBITOR OF METALLOPROTEINASE; TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR BETA; TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR ALPHA; VIRUS PROTEIN;

ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION; DISEASE COURSE; ECHOGRAPHY; ELASTOGRAPHY; EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX; FATTY LIVER; GENE EXPRESSION; GENE FREQUENCY; GENE MAPPING; GENE MUTATION; GENETIC POLYMORPHISM; GENETIC RISK; GOLD STANDARD; HEPATITIS B; HEPATITIS C; HEREDITY; HUMAN; IMMUNE RESPONSE; LIVER BIOPSY; LIVER CELL; LIVER FIBROSIS; LIVER INJURY; PHENOTYPE; PROTEIN PROTEIN INTERACTION; REVIEW; STELLATE CELL; VIRUS HEPATITIS;

DISEASE PROGRESSION; EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX PROTEINS; GENE EXPRESSION; HEPACIVIRUS; HEPATITIS B VIRUS; HEPATITIS B, CHRONIC; HEPATITIS C, CHRONIC; HUMANS; LIVER; LIVER CIRRHOSIS; VIRAL PROTEINS;

EID: 34347271294     PISSN: 01884409     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2006.10.001     Document Type: Review

References (102)

1. Pinzani M. Non-invasive evaluation of hepatic fibrosis: don't count your chickens before they're hatched. Gut 55 (2006) 310-312
2. Hache C., and Villeneuve J.P. Lamivudine treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B and cirrhosis. Expert Opin Pharmacother 7 (2006) 1835-184
3. Arima M., Terao H., Kashima K., Arita T., Nasu M., and Nishizono A. Regression of liver fibrosis in cases of chronic liver disease type C: quantitative evaluation by using computed image analysis. Intern Med 43 (2004) 902-910
4. Teoh N.C., and Farrell G.C. Management of chronic hepatitis C virus infection: a new era of disease control. Intern Med J 34 (2004) 324-337
5. Perez-Tamayo R. Cirrhosis of the liver: a reversible disease?. Pathol Annu 14 (1979) 183-213
6. Rojkind M., and Dunn M.A. Hepatic fibrosis. Gastroenterology 76 (1979) 849-863
7. Kershenobich D., Vargas F., Garcia-Tsao G., Perez Tamayo R., Gent M., and Rojkind M. Colchicine in the treatment of cirrhosis of the liver. N Engl J Med 318 (1988) 1709-1713
8. Kershenobich D. Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis: are they reversible?. Rev Gastroenterol Mex 69 (2004) 149-151
9. Hammel P., Couvelard A., O'Toole D., Ratouis A., Sauvanet A., Flejou J.F., et al. Regression of liver fibrosis after biliary drainage in patients with chronic pancreatitis and stenosis of the common bile duct. N Engl J Med 344 (2001) 418-423
10. Muretto P., Angelucci E., and Lucarelli G. Reversibility of cirrhosis in patients cured of thalassemia by bone marrow transplantation. Ann Intern Med 136 (2002) 667-672
11. Iredale J.P. Cirrhosis: new research provides a basis for rational and targeted treatments. BMJ 327 (2003) 143-147
12. Ryder S.D., Irving W.L., Jones D.A., Neal K.R., and Underwood J.C. Progression of hepatic fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C: a prospective repeat liver biopsy study. Gut 53 (2004) 451-455
13. Massard J., Ratziu V., Thabut D., Moussalli J., Lebray P., Benhamou Y., et al. Natural history and predictors of disease severity in chronic hepatitis C. J Hepatol 44 (2006) S19-S24
14. Fowell A.J., and Iredale J.P. Emerging therapies for liver fibrosis. Dig Dis 24 (2006) 174-183
15. Friedman S.L. Evaluation of fibrosis and hepatitis C. Am J Med 107 (1999) S27-S30
16. Poynard T., Munteanu M., Ngo Y., Torres M., Benhamou Y., Thabut D., and Ratziu V. Diagnostic value of FibroTest with normal serum aminotransferases. Hepatology 43 (2006) 374-376
17. Friedman S.L. Seminars in medicine of the Beth Israel Hospital, Boston. The cellular basis of hepatic fibrosis. Mechanisms and treatment strategies. N Engl J Med 328 (1993) 1828-1835
18. Abdel-Aziz G., Rescan P.Y., Clement B., Lebeau G., Rissel M., Grimaud J.A., et al. Cellular sources of matrix proteins in experimentally induced cholestatic rat liver. J Pathol 164 (1991) 167-174
19. Bhunchet E., and Wake K. Role of mesenchymal cell populations in porcine serum-induced rat liver fibrosis. Hepatology 16 (1992) 1452-1473
20. Rojkind M., and Greenwel P. The liver as a bio-ecological system. In: Arias I.M., Jakoby W.B., Popper H., et al. (Eds). The Liver. Biology and Pathobiology, 2nd ed (1988), Raven Press, New York 1269-1285
21. Pinzani M. Liver fibrosis. Springer Semin Immunopathol 21 (1999) 475-490
22. Friedman S.L., Maher J.J., and Bissell D.M. Mechanisms and therapy of hepatic fibrosis: report of the AASLD Single Topic Basic Research Conference. Hepatology 32 (2000) 1403-1408
23. Bataller R., and Brenner D.A. Liver fibrosis. J Clin Invest 115 (2005) 209-218
24. Geerts A. History and heterogeneity of stellate cells, and its role in normal liver function. Semin Liver Dis 21 (2001) 311-336
25. Poweell D.W., Mifflin R.C., Valentich J.D., Crowe S.E., Saada J.I., and West A.B. Myofibroblasts. I. Paracrine cells important in health and disease. Am J Physiol 277 (1999) C1-C9
26. Friedman S.L. Closing in on the signals of hepatic fibrosis. Gastroenterology 112 (1997) 1406-1409
27. Sappino A.P., Shurch W., and Gabbiani G. Differentiation repertoire of fibroblastic cells: expression of cytoskeletal proteins as marker of phenotypic modulations. Lab Invest 63 (1990) 144-161
28. Cassiman D., Libbrecht L., Desmet V., Denef C., and Roskams T. Hepatic stellate cell/myofibroblast subpopulations in fibrotic human and rat livers. J Hepatol 36 (2002) 200-209
29. Forbes S.J., Russo F.P., Rey V., Burra P., Rugge M., Wright N.A., et al. A significant proportion of myofibroblasts are of bone marrow origin in human liver fibrosis. Gastroenterology 126 (2004) 955-963
30. Reinhart-King C.A., Dembo M., and Hammer D.A. The dynamics and mechanics of endothelial cell spreading. Biophys J 89 (2005) 676-689
31. Yee Jr. H.F. Rho directs activation-associated changes in rat hepatic stellate cell morphology via regulation of the actin cytoskeleton. Hepatology 28 (1998) 843-850
32. Rockey D. The cellular pathogenesis of portal hypertension: stellate cell contractility, endothelin, and nitric oxide. Hepatology 25 (1997) 2-5
33. Lemmon C.A., Sniadecki N.J., Ruiz S.A., Tan J.L., Romer I.H., and Chen C.S. Shear force at the cell-matrix interface: enhanced analysis for microfabricated post array detectors. Mech Chem Biosyst 2 (2005) 1-16
34. Li Q., Muragaki Y., Hatamura I., Ueno H., and Ooshima A. Stretch-induced collagen synthesis in cultured smooth muscle cells from rabbit aortic media and a possible involvement of angiotensin II and transforming growth factor-beta. J Vasc Res 35 (1998) 93-103
35. Seko Y., Takahashi N., Tobe K., Kadowaki T., and Yazaki Y. Pulsatile stretch activates mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family members and focal adhesion kinase (p125(FAK)) in cultured rat cardiac myocytes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 259 (1999) 8-14
36. Xu X., Li Y.M., Ji H., Hou C.Z., Cheng Y.B., and Ma F.P. Changes of ECM and CAM gene expression profile in the cirrhotic liver after HCV infection: analysis by cDNA expression array. World J Gastroenterol 11 (2005) 2184-2187
37. Assoian R.K. Anchorage-dependent cell cycle progression. J Cell Biol 136 (1997) 1-4
38. Biéche I., Asselah T., Laurendeau I., Vidaud D., Degot C., Paradis V., et al. Molecular profiling of early stage liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Virology 332 (2005) 130-144
39. Lau D.T., Luxon B.A., Xiao S.Y., Beard M.R., and Lemon S.M. Intrahepatic gene expression profiles and alpha-smooth muscle actin patterns in hepatitis C virus induced fibrosis. Hepatology 42 (2005) 273-281
40. Fukuda R., Ishimura N., Ishihara S., Chowdhury A., Morlyama N., Nogami C., et al. Intrahepatic expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNAs and interferon efficacy in chronic hepatitis C. Liver 16 (1996) 390-399
41. Napoli J., Bishop G.A., and McCaughan G.W. Increased intrahepatic messenger RNA expression of interleukins 2, 6, and 8 in human cirrhosis. Gastroenterology 107 (1994) 789-798
42. Uemura M., Tatsumi K., Matsumoto M., Fujimoto M., Matsuyama T., Ishikawa M., et al. Localization of ADAMTS13 to the stellate cells of human liver. Blood 106 (2005) 922-924
43. Leroy V., Monier F., Bottari S., Trocme C., Sturm N., Hilleret M.N., et al. Circulating matrix metalloproteinases 1, 2, 9 and their inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 as serum markers of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C: comparison with PIIINP and hyaluronic acid. Am J Gastroenterol 99 (2004) 271-279
44. Shao R.X., Hoshida Y., Otsuka M., Kato N., Tateishi R., Teratani T., et al. Hepatic gene expression profiles associated with fibrosis progression and hepatocarcinogenesis in hepatitis C patients. World J Gastroenterol 11 (2005) 1995-1999
45. Huang H., Shiffman M.L., Cheung R.C., Layden T.J., Friedman S., Abar O.T., et al. Identification of two gene variants associated with risk of advanced fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Gastroenterology 130 (2006) 1679-1687
46. Lacombe K., Massari V., Girard P.M., Serfaty L., Gozlan J., Pialoux G., et al. Major role of hepatitis B genotypes in liver fibrosis during coinfection with HIV. AIDS 20 (2006) 419-427
47. Zhang L.J., and Wang X.Z. Interleukin-10 and chronic liver disease. World J Gastroenterol 12 (2006) 1681-1685
48. Cheong J.Y., Cho S.W., Hwang I.L., Yoon S.K., et al. Association between chronic hepatitis B virus infection and interleukin-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene promoter polymorphisms. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 21 (2006) 1163-1169
49. Wang H., Mengsteab S., Tag C.G., Gao C.F., Hellerbrand C., Lammert F., et al. Transforming growth factor-beta1 gene polymorphisms are associated with progression of liver fibrosis in Caucasians with chronic hepatitis C infection. World J Gastroenterol 11 (2005) 1929-1936
50. Ben-Ari Z., Tambur A.R., Pappo O., Sulkes J., Pravica V., Hutchinson I., et al. Platelet-derived growth factor gene polymorphism in recurrent hepatitis C infection after liver transplantation. Transplantation 81 (2006) 392-397
51. Hennig B.J., Hellier S., Frodsham A.J., Zhang L., Klenerman P., Knapp S., et al. Association of low-density lipoprotein receptor polymorphisms and outcome of hepatitis C infection. Genes Immun 3 (2002) 359-367
52. Mohammadzadeh Ghobadloo S., Yaghmaei B., Allameh A., Hassani P., Noorinayer B., and Zali M.R. Polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase M1, T1, and P1 in patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, and normal carriers. Clin Biochem 39 (2006) 46-49
53. Hellier S., Frodsham A.J., Hennig B.J., Klenerman P., Knapp S., Ramaley P., et al. Association of genetic variants of the chemokine receptor CCR5 and its ligands, RANTES and MCP-2, with outcome of HCV infection. Hepatology 38 (2003) 1468-1476
54. Xiao F., Wei H., Song S., Li G., and Song C. Polymorphisms in the promoter region of the angiotensinogen gene are associated with liver cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 21 (2006) 1488-1491
55. Xie J.P., Gong X.Q., Tan D.M., Liu F., and Zhou J.L. Estrogen receptor gene polymorphisms and HBV-induced liver cirrhosis. Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 31 (2006) 379-382
56. Montfort I., and Perez-Tamayo R. Collagenase in experimental carbon tetrachloride cirrhosis of the liver. Am J Pathol 92 (1978) 411-420
57. Schaefer B., Rivas-Estilla A.M., Meraz-Cruz N., Reyes-Romero M.A., Hernandez-Nazara Z.H., Dominguez-Rosales J.A., et al. Reciprocal modulation of matrix metalloproteinase-13 and type I collagen genes in rat hepatic stellate cells. Am J Pathol 162 (2003) 1771-1780
58. Benyon R.C., and Arthur M.J. Extracellular matrix degradation and the role of hepatic stellate cells. Semin Liver Dis 21 (2001) 373-384
59. Arthur M.J. Fibrogenesis II. Metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in liver fibrosis. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 279 (2000) G245-G249
60. Hijova E. Matrix metalloproteinases: their biological functions and clinical implications. Bratisl Lek Listy 106 (2005) 127-132
61. Osman M., Tortorella M., Londei M., and Quaratino S. Expression of matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases define the migratory characteristics of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Immunology 105 (2002) 73-82
62. Kasahara A., Hayashi N., Mochizuki K., Oshita M., Katayama K., Kato M., et al. Circulating matrix metalloproteinase-2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 as serum markers of fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Relationship to interferon response. J Hepatol 26 (1997) 574-583
63. Boeker K.H., Haberkorn C.I., Michels D., Flemming P., Manns M.P., and Lichtinghagen R. Diagnostic potential of circulating TIMP-1 and MMP-2 as markers of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Clin Chim Acta 316 (2002) 71-81
64. Koulentaki M., Valatas V., Xidakis K., Kouroumalis A., Petinaki E., Castanas E., et al. Matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in acute viral hepatitis. J Viral Hepat 9 (2002) 189-193
65. Leroy V., Monier F., Bottari S., Trocme C., Sturm N., Hilleret M.N., Morel F., and Zarski J.P. Circulating matrix metalloproteinases 1, 2, 9 and their inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 as serum markers of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C: comparison with PIIINP and hyaluronic acid. Am J Gastroenterol 99 (2004) 271-279
66. Han Y.P. Matrix metalloproteinases, the pros and cons, in liver fibrosis. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 21 (2006) S88-S91
67. Schuppan D., Krebs A., Bauer M., and Hahn E.G. Hepatitis C and liver fibrosis. Cell Death Differ 10 (2003) S59-S67
68. Marshall A., Rushbrook S., Davies S.E., Morris L.S., Scott I.S., Vowler S.L., et al. Relation between hepatocyte G1 arrest, impaired hepatic regeneration, and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Gastroenterology 128 (2005) 33-42
69. Bataller R., Paik Y.H., Lindquist J.N., Lemasters J.J., and Brenner D.A. Hepatitis C virus core and nonstructural proteins induce fibrogenic effects in hepatic stellate cells. Gastroenterology 126 (2004) 529-540
70. Franco S., Gimenez-Barcons M., Puig-Basagoiti F., Furcic I., Sanchez-Tapias J.M., Rodes J., et al. Characterization and evolution of NS5A quasispecies of hepatitis C virus genotype 1b in patients with different stages of liver disease. J Med Virol 71 (2003) 195-204
71. Shin J.Y., Hur W., Wang J.S., Jang J.W., Kim C.W., Bae S.H., et al. HCV core protein promotes liver fibrogenesis via up-regulation of CTGF with TGF-beta1. Exp Mol Med 37 (2005) 138-145
72. Lopez-Labrador F.X., Bracho M.A., Berenguer M., Coscolla M., Rayon J.M., Prieto M., et al. Genetic similarity of hepatitis C virus and fibrosis progression in chronic and recurrent infection after liver transplantation. J Viral Hepat 13 (2006) 104-115
73. Schulze-Krebs A., Preimel D., Popov Y., Bartenschlager R., Lohmann V., Pinzani M., et al. Hepatitis C virus-replicating hepatocytes induce fibrogenic activation of hepatic stellate cells. Gastroenterology 129 (2005) 246-258
74. Buti M., Rodriguez-Frias F., Jardi R., and Esteban R. Hepatitis B virus genome variability and disease progression: the impact of pre-core mutants and HBV genotypes. J Clin Virol 34 (2005) S79-S82
75. Chen B.F., Liu C.J., Jow G.M., Chen P.J., Kao J.H., and Chen D.S. High prevalence and mapping of pre-S deletion in hepatitis B virus carriers with progressive liver diseases. Gastroenterology 130 (2006) 1153-1168
76. Lin C.L., Liao L.Y., Wang C.S., Chen P.J., Lai M.Y., Chen D.S., and Kao J.H. Basal core-promoter mutant of hepatitis B virus and progression of liver disease in hepatitis B e antigen-negative chronic hepatitis B. Liver Int 25 (2005) 564-570
77. Ganne-Carrie N., Williams V., Kaddouri H., Trinchet J.C., Dziri-Mendil S., Alloui C., et al. Significance of hepatitis B virus genotypes A to E in a cohort of patients with chronic hepatitis B in the Seine Saint Denis District of Paris (France). J Med Virol 78 (2006) 335-340
78. Chen C.H., Lee C.M., Lu S.N., Changchien C.S., Eng H.L., Huang C.M., et al. Clinical significance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes and precore and core promoter mutations affecting HBV e antigen expression in Taiwan. J Clin Microbiol 43 (2005) 6000-6006
79. Gutierrez-Reyes G., Lopez-Ortal P., Sixtos S., Cruz S., Ramirez-Iglesias M.T., Gutierrez-Ruiz M.C., et al. Effect of pentoxifylline on levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines during chronic hepatitis C. Scand J Immunol 63 (2006) 461-467
80. Canbay A., Feldstein A., Baskin-Bey E., Bronk S.F., and Gores G.J. The caspase inhibitor IDN-6556 attenuates hepatic injury and fibrosis in the bile duct ligated mouse. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 308 (2004) 1191-1196
81. Pan H.N., Sun R., Jaruga B., Hong F., Kim W.H., and Gao B. Chronic ethanol consumption inhibits hepatic natural killer cell activity and accelerates murine cytomegalovirus-induced hepatitis. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 30 (2006) 1615-1623
82. Carriere M., Rosenberg A.R., Conti F., Chouzenoux S., Terris B., Sogni P., et al. Low density lipoprotein receptor transcripts correlates with liver hepatitis C virus RNA in patients with alcohol consumption. J Viral Hepat 13 (2006) 633-642
83. Brown L.A., Cook R.T., Jerrells T.R., Kolls J.K., Nagy L.E., Szabo G., et al. Acute and chronic alcohol abuse modulate immunity. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 30 (2006) 1624-1631
84. Younossi Z.M., McCullough A.J., Ong J.P., Barnes D.S., Post A., Tavill A., et al. Obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in chronic hepatitis C. J Clin Gastroenterol 38 (2004) 705-709
85. Bondini S., and Younossi Z.M. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatitis C infection. Minerva Gastroenterol Dietol 52 (2006) 135-143
86. Alberti A., Vario A., Ferrari A., and Pistis R. Review article: chronic hepatitis C natural history and cofactors. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 22 (2005) S74-S78
87. Farid A., Al-Sherbiny M., Osman A., Mohamed N., Saad A., Shata M.T., et al. Schistosoma infection inhibits cellular immune responses to core HCV peptides. Parasite Immunol 27 (2005) 189-196
88. Iloeje U.H., Yang H.I., Su J., Jen C.L., You S.L., and Chen C.J. Predicting cirrhosis risk based on the level of circulating hepatitis B viral load. Gastroenterology 130 (2006) 678-686
89. Grant A., and Neuberger J. Guidelines on the use of liver biopsy in clinical practice. Gut 45 (1999) SIV1-SIV11
90. Dienstag J.L. The role of liver biopsy in chronic hepatitis C. Hepatology 36 (2002) S152-S160
91. Bedossa P., Dargere D., and Paradis V. Sampling variability of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C. Hepatology 38 (2003) 1449-1457
92. Rousselet M.C., Michalak S., Dupre F., Croue A., Bedossa P., Saint-Andre J.P., et al. Sources of variability in histological scoring of chronic viral hepatitis. Hepatology 41 (2005) 257-264
93. Wai C.T., Greenson J.K., Fontana R.J., Kalbfleisch J.D., Marrero J.A., Conjeevaram H.S., et al. A simple noninvasive index can predict both significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Hepatology 38 (2003) 518-526
94. Forns X., Ampurdanes S., Llovet J.M., Aponte J., Quinto L., Martinez-Bauer E., et al. Identification of chronic hepatitis C patients without hepatic fibrosis by a simple predictive model. Hepatology 36 (2002) 986-992
95. Sud A., Hui J.M., Farrell G.C., Bandara P., Kench J.G., Fung C., et al. Improved prediction of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C using measures of insulin resistance in a probability index. Hepatology 39 (2004) 1239-1247
96. Islam S., Antonsson L., Westin J., and Lagging M. Cirrhosis in hepatitis C virus-infected patients can be excluded using an index of standard biochemical serum markers. Scand J Gastroenterol 40 (2005) 867-872
97. Imbert-Bismut F., Ratziu V., Pieroni L., Charlotte F., Benhamou Y., and Poynard T. Biochemical markers of liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C virus infection: a prospective study. Lancet 357 (2001) 1069-1075
98. Schneider A.R., Teuber G., Kriener S., and Caspary W.F. Noninvasive assessment of liver steatosis, fibrosis and inflammation in chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Liver Int 25 (2005) 1150-1155
99. D'Onofrio M., Martone E., Brunelli S., Faccioli N., Zamboni G., Zagni I., et al. Accuracy of ultrasound in the detection of liver fibrosis in chronic viral hepatitis. Radiol Med (Torino) 110 (2005) 341-348
100. Zheng R.Q., Wang Q.H., Lu M.D., Xie S.B., Ren J., Su Z.Z., et al. Liver fibrosis in chronic viral hepatitis: an ultrasonographic study. World J Gastroenterol 9 (2003) 2484-2489
101. Castera L., Vergniol J., Foucher J., Le Bail B., Chanteloup E., Haaser M., et al. Prospective comparison of transient elastography, Fibrotest, APRI, and liver biopsy for the assessment of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C. Gastroenterology 128 (2005) 343-350
102. Sebastiani G., Vario A., Ferrari A., Pistis R., Noventa F., and Alberti A. Hepatic iron, liver steatosis and viral genotypes in patients with chronic hepatitis C. J Viral Hepat 13 (2006) 199-205