<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Liver biopsy in clinical practice has been widely used for the diagnosis and management of patients with liver diseases, particularly, with chronic liver diseases. However, liver biopsy is an invasive method with potential complications, sampling and interpretation errors. Therefore, noninvasive tests are being developed and introduced to replace liver biopsy. The aim of the present study was to identify the new noninvasive methods to be used for the assessment of liver structure and function, by use of the appropriate serum surrogate markers and to evaluate the clinical diagnostic and prognostic accuracy of these methods, including immunogenetic methods, in cases of acute and chronic liver diseases. The obtained data showed that serum markers of apoptosis (cytokeratin-18 neoepitope and citochrome c) and fibrosis (hyaluronic acid) should be included in viral and toxic liver damage management algorithms. The punctual identification of immunogenetic factors (HLA class II antigens) may prove to be useful in predicting disease evolution, and in guiding the appropriate therapy for patients with poor prognosis.</p></abstract>

Liver biopsy in clinical practice has been widely used for the diagnosis and management of patients with liver diseases, particularly, with chronic liver diseases. However, liver biopsy is an invasive method with potential complications, sampling and interpretation errors. Therefore, noninvasive tests are being developed and introduced to replace liver biopsy. The aim of the present study was to identify the new noninvasive methods to be used for the assessment of liver structure and function, by use of the appropriate serum surrogate markers and to evaluate the clinical diagnostic and prognostic accuracy of these methods, including immunogenetic methods, in cases of acute and chronic liver diseases. The obtained data showed that serum markers of apoptosis (cytokeratin-18 neoepitope and citochrome c) and fibrosis (hyaluronic acid) should be included in viral and toxic liver damage management algorithms. The punctual identification of immunogenetic factors (HLA class II antigens) may prove to be useful in predicting disease evolution, and in guiding the appropriate therapy for patients with poor prognosis.

Novel Laboratory Tests in Assessment of Liver Function in Acute and Chronic Liver Diseases

Rīga Stradiņš University, Dzirciema iela 16, Rīga, LV-1007, LATVIA

Infectology Centre of Latvia, Linezera iela 3, Rīga, LV-1006, LATVIA

Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Section B. Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences.

Liver biopsy in clinical practice has been widely used for the diagnosis and management of patients with liver diseases, particularly, with chronic liver...

Novel Laboratory Tests in Assessment of Liver Function in Acute and Chronic Liver Diseases

Published Online: Nov 06, 2009

Page range: 228 - 233

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10046-009-0035-4

Keywords
apoptosis fibrosis, HLA class II antigens, liver diseases

This content is open access.

Novel Laboratory Tests in Assessment of Liver Function in Acute and Chronic Liver Diseases

Published Online: Nov 06, 2009

Page range: 228 - 233

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10046-009-0035-4

Keywordsapoptosis fibrosis, HLA class II antigens, liver diseases

This content is open access.

Keywords
apoptosis fibrosis, HLA class II antigens, liver diseases