Congratulations on the successful publication of the “KASL Clinical Practice Guidelines for Noninvasive Tests To Assess Liver Fibrosis in Chronic Liver Disease” in Clinical and Molecular Hepatology (CMH). This significant achievement is a milestone in the ongoing efforts of the Korean Association for the Study of the Liver (KASL) to enhance the assessment of chronic liver disease (CLD) through noninvasive methods. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the esteemed hepatologists and specialists who contributed their expertise to this guideline, as well as to the Chair of the Guideline Development Committee of KASL, Professor Seung Up Kim, and the dedicated committee members for their hard work and relentless commitment. Your collaborative efforts have resulted in a comprehensive and evidence-based guideline that will undoubtedly serve as a vital resource for healthcare providers managing patients with CLD.
CMH, the official journal of KASL, has been a beacon of knowledge dissemination in hepatology since its inception as The Korean Journal of Hepatology in 1995 and its evolution to CMH in 2012. The journal’s inclusion in the Science Citation Index Expanded since November 2019 is a testament to its growing influence and the high quality of the research it publishes. As the Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, I am particularly proud of the remarkable increase in CMH’s impact factor, which reached an impressive 14.0 in 2023. The release of this comprehensive guideline will further solidify CMH’s status as a leading hepatology journal in Asia and around the world.
The development and publication of this guideline reflect the tireless efforts of KASL to advance hepatology research and clinical practice. It is my hope that these guidelines will not only provide practical information for the assessment of liver fibrosis but also foster further research and innovation in this critical area. Their comprehensive review of both Korean and international studies and rigorous development process ensure that these guidelines are a reliable and invaluable tool for clinicians. The ongoing pursuit of research advances by CMH and KASL is commendable, and I am confident that this publication will facilitate further advances in the field.
Congratulations once again to all who contributed to this remarkable accomplishment. I am certain that this publication will significantly improve both patient care and research in hepatology and foster a collaborative environment for sharing innovative ideas and achievements.