Liver fibrosis

Request an Appointment

Stages

Healthcare professionals often describe liver fibrosis in stages based on how much scar tissue is present in the liver. These stages help estimate how severe the scarring is and how likely the disease is to worsen over time.

Liver fibrosis is commonly described using stages from F0 to F4.

  • F0 means there is no liver scarring.
  • F1 means mild scarring is present but the liver structure is mostly preserved.
  • F2 means moderate scarring has begun to occur within the liver.
  • F3 means advanced scarring that affects larger areas of the liver and disrupts blood flow.
  • F4 means cirrhosis, the most severe stage, in which extensive scarring causes lasting damage to the liver.
Request an appointment
Diagnosis & treatmentDoctors & departments
March 19, 2026
  1. Sterling RK, et al. AASLD practice guideline on blood-based noninvasive liver disease assessment of hepatic fibrosis and steatosis. Hepatology. 2025; doi:0.1097/HEP.0000000000000845.
  2. Sterling RK, et al. AASLD practice guideline on imaging-based noninvasive liver disease assessment of hepatic fibrosis and steatosis. Hepatology. 2025; doi:10.1097/HEP.0000000000000843.
  3. Somnay K, et al. Liver fibrosis leading to cirrhosis: Basic mechanisms and clinical perspectives. Biomedicines. 2024; doi:10.3390/biomedicines12102229.
  4. Lai JC, et al. Noninvasive tests for liver fibrosis in 2024: Are there different scales for different diseases? Gastroenterology Report. 2024; doi:10.1093/gastro/goae024.
  5. Zhao L, et al. Pharmacotherapy of liver fibrosis and hepatitis: Recent advances. Pharmaceuticals. 2024; doi:10.3390/ph17121724.
  6. Cerrito L, et al. Present and future perspectives in the treatment of liver fibrosis. Pharmaceuticals. 2025; doi:10.3390/ph18091321.
  7. Fibrosis (scarring). American Liver Foundation. https://liverfoundation.org/about-your-liver/how-liver-diseases-progress/fibrosis-scarring/. Accessed Jan. 30, 2026.
  8. Hepatic fibrosis. Merck Manual Professional Edition. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/hepatic-and-biliary-disorders/fibrosis-and-cirrhosis/hepatic-fibrosis. Accessed Jan. 30, 2026.
  9. 13 ways to a healthy liver. American Liver Foundation. https://liverfoundation.org/resource-center/blog/healthy-liver-tips/. Accessed Jan. 30, 2026.
  10. Ami TR. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. Nov. 23, 2022.
  11. Tacke F, et al. EASL-EASD-EASO clinical practice guidelines on the management of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Journal of Hepatology. 2024; doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2024.04.031.

Related

Associated Procedures

Liver fibrosis