Abstract
Introduction and aims
Early and accurate non-invasive diagnosis of liver fibrosis is important for reducing the burden of cirrhosis and related complications. This cross-sectional study compares shear wave elastography (SWE), transient elastography (TE) and clinical markers of chronic liver disease in patients with various liver disorders.
Methods
Liver ultrasound with SWE was performed on 421 adult patients, 227 of whom also had TE. Patient age, gender, body mass index (BMI), liver disease aetiology, and laboratory results were recorded. Associations between SWE, TE and other tests for liver fibrosis and chronic liver disease severity were sought. Advanced liver fibrosis was defined as liver stiffness measurement (LSM) equivalent to ≥F3 using Metavir staging.
Results
Patients were predominantly male (68%), with mean (standard deviation) age 54(13) years, BMI 28(6) kg/m2, and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 39(27) U/L. Liver disorders were predominantly non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), chronic hepatitis B (CHB), chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and alcohol-related liver disease. The median (interquartile range) LSM was 10 (6-20) kPa with SWE and 9.2 (6-21) kPa with TE. Advanced liver fibrosis was associated with older age, higher BMI, MELD score, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), AST/ALT ratio, AST to platelet ratio index (APRI), Fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) and Hepascore. SWE and TE LSM were positively correlated, particularly for NAFLD and CHC. SWE LSM predicted ultrasound and endoscopy-diagnosed portal hypertension and oesophageal varices.
Conclusions
Across various liver diseases, SWE is at least comparable to TE and other non-invasive tests of liver fibrosis. SWE is accurate for predicting liver-related portal hypertension.
Early and accurate non-invasive diagnosis of liver fibrosis is important for reducing the burden of cirrhosis and related complications. This cross-sectional study compares shear wave elastography (SWE), transient elastography (TE) and clinical markers of chronic liver disease in patients with various liver disorders.
Methods
Liver ultrasound with SWE was performed on 421 adult patients, 227 of whom also had TE. Patient age, gender, body mass index (BMI), liver disease aetiology, and laboratory results were recorded. Associations between SWE, TE and other tests for liver fibrosis and chronic liver disease severity were sought. Advanced liver fibrosis was defined as liver stiffness measurement (LSM) equivalent to ≥F3 using Metavir staging.
Results
Patients were predominantly male (68%), with mean (standard deviation) age 54(13) years, BMI 28(6) kg/m2, and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 39(27) U/L. Liver disorders were predominantly non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), chronic hepatitis B (CHB), chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and alcohol-related liver disease. The median (interquartile range) LSM was 10 (6-20) kPa with SWE and 9.2 (6-21) kPa with TE. Advanced liver fibrosis was associated with older age, higher BMI, MELD score, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), AST/ALT ratio, AST to platelet ratio index (APRI), Fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) and Hepascore. SWE and TE LSM were positively correlated, particularly for NAFLD and CHC. SWE LSM predicted ultrasound and endoscopy-diagnosed portal hypertension and oesophageal varices.
Conclusions
Across various liver diseases, SWE is at least comparable to TE and other non-invasive tests of liver fibrosis. SWE is accurate for predicting liver-related portal hypertension.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 640-650 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Internal Medicine Journal |
| Volume | 52 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Early online date | 2 Nov 2021 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 13 Apr 2022 |
