MALDI-MS analysis reveals reliable results in staging HCV induced fibrogenesis

Chronic hepatitis C is characterized by a highly variable clinical course. Approximately 20% of all patients who either do not receive antiviral therapy or fail to respond develop liver cirrhosis within 20 years. Currently, serum markers for hepatic fibrosis diagnosis show a limited sensitivity and specificity so that liver biopsy with high sampling error rate is still used (1). Clinical application of current biomarkers is therefore not feasible. There is an absolute demand on high-throughput methods allowing the reliable assessment of the severity and/or progression of hepatic fibrogenesis.