Possibility of Using ELF Score as Index for Hepatic Fibrosis Evaluation

Liver fibrosis, most commonly caused by hepatitis virus (such as HBV and HCV) infections, excessive alcohol consumption, and obesity-induced steatosis, is characterized by the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins (including collagen) and an increase in connective-tissue (liver fibrogenesis) in the human liver. Today, while the reference standard for detecting and assessing liver fibrosis is needle biopsy of the liver, this invasive procedure can cause physical and emotional distress for patients. On the other hand, medical imaging systems and various blood markers have been developed and become available for routine laboratory practices. These non-invasive procedures, as well as pathological biopsy, have significantly contributed to assessing liver fibrosis. The Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) test is a simple blood test to create an ELF score by combining three markers: hyaluronic acid (HA), amino-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1). The ELF test is one of the promising techniques for diagnosing patients with liver fibrosis.