BACKGROUND: Cirrhosis is the end result of many types of chronic liver diseases. Recent developments in the understanding of the process of hepatic fibrogenesis have revealed that the process is a dynamic one and a capacity for recovery from any degree of fibrosis including those associated with cirrhosis is plausible. AIM: To review current evidence of histopathological reversibility following drug therapy of more common aetiologies of cirrhosis. METHODS: A PubMed search was performed and the evidence for histopathological regression of advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis following drug therapy was reviewed as of the end of February 2012. RESULTS: There is abundant clinical evidence in support of the idea of the reversibility of cirrhosis in patients with different aetiologies of advanced hepatic disease including viral, autoimmune and metabolic/infiltrative liver disease. CONCLUSIONS: The concept of cirrhosis has changed from being a form of static and irreversible entity to a dynamic and reversible diseases stage. Novel therapeutic strategies are under investigation to target specific steps in the process of fibrogenesis with the aim of reversing advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis.
BACKGROUND:Cirrhosis is the end result of many types of chronic liver diseases. Recent developments in the understanding of the process of hepatic fibrogenesis have revealed that the process is a dynamic one and a capacity for recovery from any degree of fibrosis including those associated with cirrhosis is plausible. AIM: To review current evidence of histopathological reversibility following drug therapy of more common aetiologies of cirrhosis. METHODS: A PubMed search was performed and the evidence for histopathological regression of advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis following drug therapy was reviewed as of the end of February 2012. RESULTS: There is abundant clinical evidence in support of the idea of the reversibility of cirrhosis in patients with different aetiologies of advanced hepatic disease including viral, autoimmune and metabolic/infiltrative liver disease. CONCLUSIONS: The concept of cirrhosis has changed from being a form of static and irreversible entity to a dynamic and reversible diseases stage. Novel therapeutic strategies are under investigation to target specific steps in the process of fibrogenesis with the aim of reversing advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis.
Authors: Gábor Lendvai; Tímea Szekerczés; Benedek Gyöngyösi; Krisztina Schlachter; Endre Kontsek; Adrián Pesti; Attila Patonai; Klára Werling; Ilona Kovalszky; Zsuzsa Schaff; András Kiss Journal: Pathol Oncol Res Date: 2018-11-09 Impact factor: 3.201