Prospective comparison of real‐time tissue elastography and serum fibrosis markers for the estimation of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients. Issue 7 (10th July 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tamaki, Nobuharu; Kurosaki, Masayuki; Matsuda, Shuya; Nakata, Toru; Muraoka, Masaru; Suzuki, Yuichiro; Yasui, Yutaka; Suzuki, Shoko; Hosokawa, Takanori; Nishimura, Takashi; Ueda, Ken; Tsuchiya, Kaoru; Nakanishi, Hiroyuki; Itakura, Jun; Takahashi, Yuka; Matsunaga, Kotaro; Taki, Kazuhiro; Asahina, Yasuhiro; Izumi, Namiki
• Is Part Of: Hepatology research. Volume 44:Issue 7(2014:Jul.)
• Page Start: 720
• Page End: 727
• Publication Date: 2013-07-10
• Subjects: Liver -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Liver Diseases -- Periodicals; Foie -- Maladies -- Périodiques; 616.362
• DOI: 10.1111/hepr.12179
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1386-6346

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="hepr12179-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>Real‐time tissue elastography (RTE) is a non‐invasive method for the measurement of tissue elasticity using ultrasonography. Liver fibrosis (LF) index is a quantitative method for evaluation of liver fibrosis calculated by RTE image features. This study aimed to investigate the significance of LF index for predicting liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients.</p> </sec> <sec id="hepr12179-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>In this prospective study, 115 patients with chronic hepatitis C who underwent liver biopsy were included, and the diagnostic accuracy of LF index and serum fibrosis markers was evaluated.</p> </sec> <sec id="hepr12179-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>RTE imaging was successfully performed on all patients. Median LF index in patients with F0–1, F2, F3 and F4 were 2.61, 3.07, 3.54 and 4.25, respectively, demonstrating a stepwise increase with liver fibrosis progression (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001). LF index (odds ratio [OR] = 5.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.2–13.0) and platelet count (OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.68–0.89) were independently associated with the presence of advanced fibrosis (F3–4). Further, LF index was independently associated with the presence of minimal fibrosis (F0–1) (OR = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.11–0.55). The area under the receiver–operator curve (AUROC) of LF index for predicting advanced fibrosis (0.84) was superior to platelets (0.82), FIB‐4 index (0.80) and aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index (APRI) (0.76). AUROC of LF index (0.81) was superior to platelets (0.73), FIB‐4 index (0.79) and APRI (0.78) in predicting minimal fibrosis.</p> </sec> <sec id="hepr12179-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>LF index calculated by RTE is useful for predicting liver fibrosis, and diagnostic accuracy of LF index is superior to serum fibrosis markers.</p> </sec> </abstract>