Table 1 Advanced noninvasive technologies for assessing liver fibrosis stage
From: Emerging advanced approaches for diagnosis and inhibition of liver fibrogenesis
Technology | Key features | Capabilities | Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Transient elastography | Quantifies liver stiffness | Stages fibrosis based on stiffness | Rapid, validated | Limited by obesity, ascites |
Magnetic resonance elastography | MRI-based quantification of liver stiffness | Generates quantitative 3D liver stiffness maps | Accurate, samples larger regions | Requires specialized MRI equipment |
Second harmonic generation microscopy | Visualizes collagen architecture without stains | Quantifies fibrosis progression/regression by collagen signals | In vivo monitoring capability | Limited depth penetration |
miRNA panels | Measure dysregulated fibrosis-associated miRNAs | Distinguishes significant fibrosis, predicts outcomes | High stability in circulation | Variability, need validation |
Extracellular vesicle biomarkers | Profile vesicles and cargo reflective of fibrosis stage | Assess functional proteomic/genetic information related to fibrosis | Enriched disease signals from liver-derived EVs | Isolation complexity, liver specificity |
Multi-omics signatures | Integrate multidimensional molecular data | Identify prognostic indicators, subclasses | Gain insights not discernible from individual data types | Complex models, validation needs |