A systematic review on contemporary serum biomarkers for predicting liver fibrosis

Excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in the liver is a hallmark of liver fibrosis, a basic pathological process in the majority of chronic liver disorders (CLD). It is basically a reversible wound-healing reaction that is accompanied by liver parenchymal cell necrosis and apoptosis. Tissue scarring brought on by the progressive build-up of extracellular matrix (ECM) eventually leads to cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and liver failure. After at least 15–20 years of chronic liver parenchymal injury, progressive fibrogenesis, chronic inflammation, and persistent liver injury interact to cause hepatic fibrosis and its consequences, including cirrhosis. Thus, there is an urgent need for reliable markers for liver fibrosis early diagnosis. The most widely used histological technique for evaluating liver fibrosis is the METAVIR scoring system, which includes no fibrosis (F0), mild fibrosis (F1), considerable fibrosis (F2), advanced fibrosis (F3), and cirrhosis (F4) [5]. Liver biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosing liver fibrosis. A single liver biopsy may misidentify between 10% and 30% of cases with hepatic fibrosis, notwithstanding possible consequences, according to recent research [6]. In normal dynamic clinical practice, non-invasive serum biomarkers are more chosen by patients and clinicians due to their simplicity, accessibility, and repeatability.