Research advances in noninvasive diagnostic methods for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease ( NAFLD) has become the most common liver disease in the world in terms of incidence rate and is gradually becoming the first cause of liver transplantation in developed countries. The spectrum of this disease includes simple fatty liver, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis ( NASH) , liver fibrosis, and liver cirrhosis. Compared with simple fatty liver, NASH is not a benign disease and can progress to advanced cirrhosis and liver cancer. At present, liver biopsy remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of NASH, but its application is limited by its invasive and potential complications. Noninvasive diagnostic methods have been developed for the diagnosis of NASH in clinical practice to replace liver biopsy; however, there still lack mature and reliable noninvasive methods, and continuous efforts should be made for further exploration and modification. This article reviews the recent research advances in noninvasive diagnostic methods for NASH in China and foreign countries.