To biopsy or not to biopsy: Evaluation of a large German cohort of patients with unclear hepatopathy and negative for viral hepatitis A, B, or C

Introduction: Elevated laboratory liver values are common findings in patients with unclear hepatopathy. The decision of a whether a liver biopsy should be performed in these patients is mostly based on personal recommendations rather than well-established guidelines. Therefore, the aim of our retrospective single centre study was to determine if and which elevated laboratory liver values lead to the decision for a consecutive liver biopsy and if laboratory liver values may predict pathology findings. Methods: 504 patients admitted for unclear hepatopathy to a university hospital outpatient clinic between 2007 a…