Abstract: Objective To summarize the current research and prospects of drug combinations used in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis(HF). Methods Related literature at home and abroad was reviewed, research findings in this field were summarized, and the key issues facing HF treatment were discussed, including the pathogenesis, medications currently used and the progress in drug combination therapies. Results The pathogenesis of HF involved hepatic stellate cell activation, iron death, autophagy and cell conduction pathway. Despite the benefits of monotherapy in controlling the disease, the therapeutic effect was limited and such problems as drug resistance existed. Because of the multi-target and multi-pathway mechanism of action, drug combinations became a hot spot in the treatment of HF. Studies showed that some drug combinations could significantly inhibit pathological processes, improve liver function indexes, and go a long way towards alleviating HF and improving prognosis. Conclusion Multi-drug combination therapies are one of the effective strategies for HF treatment, especially in case of complex pathological mechanism and multi-factor influence. It is recommended that future studies continue to optimize the combination treatment regimens. The development of compound drugs may become a new trend in new drug research.

Key words: hepatic fibrosis, hepatic stellate cells, extracellular matrix, pathogenesis, combination drugs, compound drugs