ASSESSMENT METHODS FOR HEPATOCELLULAR DAMAGE IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS: BIOCHEMICAL AND INSTRUMENTAL APPROACHES

Chronic hepatitis remains a major global health concern due to its progressive nature and potential to cause liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Accurate and timely assessment of hepatocellular injury is essential for early diagnosis, effective disease staging, and monitoring of therapeutic response. This article provides a comprehensive overview of both biochemical and instrumental methods used to evaluate hepatocyte damage in patients with chronic hepatitis. Biochemical markers such as ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, and bilirubin levels serve as primary indicators of hepatocellular integrity and inflammation. Instrumental approaches, including ultrasonography, transient elastography (FibroScan), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and MR elastography, offer valuable structural and functional insights into the liver. The paper also discusses the advantages and limitations of each modality, as well as the growing role of non-invasive technologies in routine clinical practice. Emphasis is placed on the need for an integrated diagnostic strategy that combines laboratory data with imaging findings to improve the accuracy of liver damage evaluation and guide patient management in chronic hepatitis.