[The non-invasive diagnostic of fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver under chronic viral hepatitis: publications review].

The chronic viral hepatitis is characterized by progressing course. In connection with this fact, there is a risk of development of fibrosis of liver. The diagnostic of this disease biopsy is applied as main technique. However, this invasive procedure is not always safe for patient. Therefore, it is applied only in specialized institutions, requires special training of medical personnel and has a number of contraindications. In recent years, in the capacity of noninvasive diagnostic of different stages of fibrosis of liver a number of serum markers are considered. Among them, the most number of studies concerns hyaluronic acid, collagen type IV, matrix metalloproteinase and their tissue inhibitors, transforming growth factor β. The review presents actual information concerning possibilities of application of these serological indices in practical medicine in patients with chronic viral hepatitis.