Topic Highlight
Copyright ©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Mar 14, 2014; 20(10): 2515-2532
Published online Mar 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i10.2515
Hepatic inflammation and progressive liver fibrosis in chronic liver disease
Albert J Czaja
Albert J Czaja, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, United States
Author contributions: Czaja AJ determined the theme of this manuscript, designed its format, reviewed the literature, selected the pertinent studies, drafted the manuscript, critically reviewed and revised its content, developed the tables, designed the figure, typed the document, approved the final version, and submitted the manuscript for review.
Correspondence to: Albert J Czaja, MD, Professor Emeritus of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 1st St SW, Rochester, MN 55905, United States. czaja.albert@mayo.edu
Telephone: +1-507-2848118 Fax: +1-507-2840538
Received: September 27, 2013
Revised: October 24, 2013
Accepted: November 12, 2013
Published online: March 14, 2014
Processing time: 166 Days and 13.8 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: The prevention of hepatic fibrosis and the reversal of cirrhosis are now achievable objectives in the management of chronic liver disease. Conventional immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral therapies can accomplish these outcomes by reducing liver damage, suppressing hepatic inflammation, and eliminating etiological agents, but they do so inconsistently and indirectly. The continuing clarification of pro-fibrotic mechanisms affords opportunities to design site-specific, anti-fibrotic interventions. Anti-oxidants and angiotensin inhibitors have shown promise as adjunctive anti-fibrotic agents in preliminary human studies, and they exemplify a genre of interventions that are likely to influence future management strategies.