Increased liver stiffness and activated hepatic stellate cells in acute liver failure

Introduction: Acute liver failure (ALF) is associated with massive short term cell death, while chronic liver injury is accompanied by continuous cell death. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) contribute to tissue repair and liver fibrosis in chronic liver injury, although their role in ALF remains unclarified. Methods: Twenty-nine patients (median age=43yrs.; 17 females/12 males) with ALF according to the ALFSG criteria were included. Upon diagnosis of ALF, as well as after 7 days, we determined hepatic elasticity (LS) by FibroScan®, standard laboratory parameters, serum levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, -…