Application of artificial intelligence in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and viral hepatitis

Core Tip

Core Tip: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) exists on a spectrum from simple hepatocyte steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with ballooning and fibrosis. Given the lack of efficient screening methods and high rate of asymptomatic disease, it is challenging to identify patients with NAFLD in its various stages. Although liver biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosing NASH, it is an invasive, costly, and painful procedure. Conventional imaging modalities including ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and transient elastography are limited by inter- and intra-observer variability depending on the stage of fibrosis. Similarly, despite recent progress in the prevention and treatment of viral hepatitis, predicting sustained virological response and disease progression remains challenging. Artificial intelligence (AI) is an exciting and increasingly pertinent field in medicine as clinicians incorporate augmenting technology into their daily practice. This review summarizes recent literature on the application of AI in NAFLD and viral hepatitis. Specifically, the review will assess the performance of AI as a non-invasive method for the diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis and steatosis, as well as for the detection and treatment of chronic viral hepatitis. It will also aim to highlight the potential for AI based methods on their ability to develop therapeutic targets.