Title:Serum Biomarkers for Noninvasive Diagnosis of Liver Diseases: How Laudable are These Tools?
Volume: 15
Issue: 2
Author(s): Ankita Singh, Vipul Ranjan, Rina Das*, Karun Bhatti, Dinesh Kumar Mehta and Ram Mohan Chidurala
Affiliation:
- M.M. College of Pharmacy, Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Mullana, Ambala, HR,India
Keywords:
Biomarkers, direct biomarkers, indirect biomarkers, liver diseases, non-invasive, liver diseases.
Abstract:
Innumerable reasons have been reported that affect and infect the liver and cause liver
diseases. The evaluation and follow-up of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis have been traditionally performed
by liver biopsy. However, it has become evident that this once defined as “gold-standard”
is now not the best method as it involves many limitations. Attempts to reveal non-invasive diagnostic
tools have generated serum biomarkers, multiple scores, formulae, and imaging modalities.
All are better tolerated, safer, more acceptable to the patient, and are less expensive than a liver
biopsy. Biomarkers have various advantages like minimally invasive, easy to apply with great availability
and easier reproducibility, useful for monitoring therapy and less expensive. But then, direct
biomarkers involved in extracellular matrix turnover need further validation in different geographic
population and indirect biomarkers may not predict early pathophysiological changes in liver
parenchyma. The accuracy and diagnostic value of most, if not all, of these biomarkers remain controversial.
Hence, there is a need for a biomarker that is specific for the liver and can identify the
magnitude of the clinical outcome of the disease.
In this review, we discuss the clinical utility, limitations, and development of noninvasive biomarkers
in their use as diagnostic and prognostic tests and analyze whether the present known serum biomarkers
are laudable and accurate tools for the diagnosis of liver diseases.
