Gastroesophageal varices evaluation using spleen-dedicated stiffness measurement by vibration-controlled transient elastography.
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ABSTRACT: Background and aim
Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and spleen stiffness measurement (SSM@50 Hz) using standard vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) have been studied as a noninvasive test for screening of gastroesophageal varices (GEV) in chronic liver disease (CLD). Recently, a novel spleen-dedicated VCTE (SSM@100 Hz) has been developed. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of SSM@100 Hz, SSM@50 Hz, LSM, and other noninvasive tests using esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) as the reference as well as the correlation with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG).Methods
A total of 123 patients with CLD enrolled in this cross-sectional study. SSM@100 Hz, SSM@50 Hz, and LSM were determined by VCTE. EGD and HVPG were performed within 12 weeks before or after VCTE.Results
GEV were present in 60 patients. Failure or suboptimal SSM were fewer at 100 Hz (4.0%) than at 50 Hz (17.7%). All SSM values obtained at 100 Hz were lower than the 100 kPa ceiling threshold, but 10 patients reached the 75 kPa ceiling threshold for SSM@50 Hz. SSM@100 Hz was most accurate (area under the receiver operating characteristic [AUROC] = 0.944) for the diagnosis of GEV compared to SSM@50 Hz, LSM, and scoring systems. AUROC of SSM@100 Hz for diagnosis of high-bleeding risk varices (HRV) was 0.941, which was significantly higher than that of SSM@50 Hz (AUROC = 0.842, P = 0.002). SSM@100 Hz showed higher specificity (82.0%) for diagnosis of HRV than SSM@50 Hz (specificity = 67.1%). SSM@100 Hz was significantly correlated with HVPG (r = 0.71, P < 0.001).Conclusions
The novel spleen-dedicated VCTE examination can be used for noninvasive assessment of GEV and HVPG in CLD. Japan Registry of Clinical Trials Registry No. jRCTs032200119.
SUBMITTER: Nagai K
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8762624 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:BACKGROUND:A recent retrospective study confirmed that hepatic stiffness and splenic stiffness measured with magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) are strongly associated with the presence of esophageal varices. In addition, strong correlations have been reported between splenic stiffness values measured with MRE and hepatic venous pressure gradients in animal models. However, most studies have been conducted on adult populations, and previous pediatric MRE studies have only demonstrated the feasibility of MRE in pediatric populations, while the actual clinical application of spleen MRE has been limited. AIM:To assess the utility of splenic stiffness measurements by MRE to predict gastroesophageal varices in children. METHODS:We retrospectively reviewed abdominal MRE images taken on a 3T system in pediatric patients. Patients who had undergone Kasai operations for biliary atresia were selected for the Kasai group, and patients with normal livers and spleens were selected for the control group. Two-dimensional spin-echo echo-planar MRE acquisition centered on the liver, with a pneumatic driver at 60 Hz and a low amplitude, was performed to obtain hepatic and splenic stiffness values. Laboratory results for aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) were evaluated within six months of MRE, and the normalized spleen size ratio was determined with the upper normal size limit. All Kasai group patients underwent gastroesophageal endoscopy during routine follow-up. The Mann-Whitney U test, Kendall's tau b correlation and diagnostic performance analysis using the area under the curve (AUC) were performed for statistical analysis. RESULTS:The median spleen MRE value was 5.5 kPa in the control group (n = 9, age 9-18 years, range 4.7-6.4 kPa) and 8.6 kPa in the Kasai group (n = 22, age 4-18 years, range 5.0-17.8 kPa). In the Kasai group, the APRI, spleen size ratio and spleen MRE values were higher in patients with portal hypertension (n = 11) than in patients without (n = 11) (all P < 0.001) and in patients with gastroesophageal varices (n = 6) than in patients without (n = 16) (all P < 0.05), even though their liver MRE values were not different. The APRI (? = 0.477, P = 0.007), spleen size ratio (? = 0.401, P = 0.024) and spleen MRE values (? = 0.426, P = 0.016) also correlated with varices grades. The AUC in predicting gastroesophageal varices was 0.844 at a cut-off of 0.65 (100% sensitivity and 75% specificity) for the APRI, and 0.844 at a cut-off of 9.9 kPa (83.3% sensitivity and 81.3% specificity) for spleen MRE values. CONCLUSION:At a cut-off of 9.9 kPa, spleen MRE values predicted gastroesophageal varices as well as the APRI and spleen size ratio in biliary atresia patients after the Kasai operation. However, liver MRE values were not useful for this purpose.
| S-EPMC6343098 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundSpleen stiffness measurement (SSM) performed by transient elastography at 100 Hz is a novel technology for the evaluation of portal hypertension in advanced chronic liver disease, but technical aspects are lacking. We aimed to evaluate the intraexamination variability of SSM and to determine the best transient elastography protocol for obtaining robust measurements to be used in clinical practice.MethodsWe analyzed 253 SSM exams with up to 20 scans for each examination, performed between April 2021 and June 2022. All SSM results were evaluated according to different protocols by dividing data into groups of n measurements (from 2 to 19). Considering as reference the median SSM values across all the 20 measurements, we calculated the distribution of the absolute deviations of each protocol from the reference median. This analysis was repeated 1,000 times by resampling the data. Distributions were also stratified by etiology (chronic liver disease versus clinically significant portal hypertension) and different SSM ranges: < 25 kPa, 25-75, and > 75 kPa.ResultsOverall, we observed that the spleen stiffness exam had less variability if it exceeded 12 measurements, i.e., absolute deviations ≤ 5 kPa at 95% confidence. For exams with higher SSM values (> 75 kPa), as seen in clinically significant portal hypertension, at least 15 measurements are highly recommendable.ConclusionsFifteen scans per examination should be considered for each SSM exam performed at 100 Hz to achieve a low intraexamination variability within a reasonable time in clinical practice.Relevance statementPerforming at least 15 scans per examination is recommended for 100 Hz SSM in order to achieve a low intraexamination variability, in particular for values > 75 kPa compatible with clinically significant portal hypertension.Key points• Spleen stiffness measurement by transient elastography is used for stratification in patients with portal hypertension. • At 100 Hz, this method may have intraexamination variability. • A minimum of 15 scans per examination achieves a low intraexamination variability.
| S-EPMC10716091 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivesTo investigate the performance of spleen stiffness (SS) by using two-dimensional shear-wave elastography (2D-SWE) for assessing the severity of gastroesophageal varices (GEVs) after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).Methods102 eligible patients were categorized as in the post-TIPS short-term (n = 69) and long-term (n = 38) follow-up groups. The performance of SS by using 2D-SWE for evaluating the severity of GEVs was compared with liver stiffness (LS), spleen stiffness-to-liver stiffness ratio (SS/LS), liver stiffness spleen-diameter-to-platelet-ratio score (LSPS), portal hypertension (PH) risk score, platelet count-to-spleen diameter ratio (PSR), and varices risk score by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and DeLong test.ResultsIn the post-TIPS short-term follow-up group, area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) of SS were 0.585 for mild (cutoff value = 30.3 kPa), 0.655 for moderate (cutoff value = 30.6 kPa), and 0.739 for severe (cutoff value = 31.9 kPa) GEVs, which were higher than other parameters for severe GEVs. AUCs of SS were lower than other parameters for mild and moderate GEVs, but no difference was found (p > 0.05). In the post-TIPS long-term follow-up group, AUCs of SS were 0.778 for mild (cutoff value = 28.9 kPa), 0.82 for moderate (cutoff value = 29.9 kPa), and 0.824 for severe (cutoff value = 37.7 kPa) GEVs, which were higher than other parameters except for severe GEVs. AUC of SS was lower than other parameters for severe GEVs, but no significant difference was found (p > 0.05).ConclusionSS is an effective noninvasive tool to predict GEV severity during the post-TIPS follow-up.
| S-EPMC8077793 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to a large spectrum of liver disorders and is the most common cause of metabolic liver disease. The current gold standard for diagnosing NAFLD is liver biopsy, which can lead to severe complications.PurposeAmong the noninvasive diagnostic options, we chose to use a FibroScan and developed an algorithm applying the Voigt rheological model to assess the viscoelastic properties of the liver and evaluate its performance for the diagnosis of steatosis.MethodsTwenty-two healthy volunteers and 20 patients with steatosis were included. For each subject, we used a modified FibroScan, whose data had been processed by our algorithm to separate the two viscoelastic components, stiffness μ, and viscosity η. The liver elasticity μFibroscan measured by the FibroScan was also recorded. Mann-Whitney tests and receiver operating characteristics (ROCs) curve analyses were performed to compare the parameters between the two groups, and Pearson's correlation coefficients were used to assess the correlations between the parameters.ResultsWe found a good correlation between η and μFibroscan (r = 0.75), and poor correlations between μ and both η and μFibroscan (r = 0.33 and r = 0.03, respectively). We also showed that η and μFibroscan were higher in patients with steatosis compared to healthy volunteers, with area under the ROCs (AUROC) curve at 0.814 and 0.891, respectively. Conversely, μ was not different between the two groups (AUROC = 0.557).ConclusionsOur novel method successfully separated the two viscoelastic properties of the liver, of which the parameter η is a sensitive indicator for steatosis.
| S-EPMC9401907 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BACKGROUND:The assessment of liver stiffness and the degree of fibrosis are important factors affecting the management strategy. Multiple non-invasive tools are now available to offer an adequate alternative to biopsy. In this study, we tried to compare the performance of 2D shear wave elastography (SWE) to the transient elastography/fibroscan as a non-invasive tool in the prediction of liver stiffness. This is a prospective study of 215 patients confirmed by serology to have positive virus C or B infection. 2D SWE was done followed by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) known as fibroscan at the same session. Biopsy results were collected. RESULTS:The mean age was 51.07 years ± 6.07 SD. Five cases were excluded due to insufficient data. Fibroscan failed in 30 cases out of 210 cases (failure rate of 14.3%) compared with only 12 patients (6.7% failure rate) while using SWE. Only 180 patients completed the study to the result analysis. SWE results showed significant agreement to the fibroscan results with 86.7% agreement with a tendency for overestimation of the degree of fibrosis (11.7%). The efficacy of SWE was the highest during the assessment of patients with F0 (98.9%), F1 (97.8%), and F4 (93.3%) respectively and relatively low in F2 (92.8%) and F3 (90.6%). CONCLUSION:2D SWE is a relatively recent non-invasive tool in the assessment of liver fibrosis grading which can be used as an alternative to the fibroscan with almost similar diagnostic performance especially when fibroscan is not capable to obtain adequate results such as in obesity and ascites.
| S-EPMC7062958 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Transient elastography is a novel noninvasive method to assess liver fibrosis by measuring liver stiffness. This study is a first step toward the provision of a noninvasive measurement of hepatic tumor stiffness by transient elastography. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with liver tumor larger than 5 cm in diameter and located near the liver surface were enrolled between June 2004 and February 2005. Histology of each tumor was evaluated on ultrasound-guided liver biopsy specimens. Transient elastography (Fibroscan, Echosens, Paris) was used to measure tumor stiffness. Tumor stiffness was measured as follows. First, by using B-mode ultrasound, we searched for the optimal right intercostal position for tumor stiffness measurement while keeping the ultrasound probe and body surface at right angles. Then the vibrator for transient elastography was applied at the same position and angle, and stiffness was measured according to the manufacturer's instruction. RESULTS: Tumor stiffness was measured in 40 patients, 17 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), six with cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC), 16 with metastatic tumors (mostly adenocarcinoma), and one with malignant lymphoma. The median value was 55 kPa in HCC, 75 kPa in CCC, 66.5 kPa in metastatic tumor, and 16.9 kPa in malignant lymphoma. The stiffness value of CCC was significantly higher than that of HCC and metastatic tumors (P = .049). CONCLUSION: We showed that stiffness of liver tumors could be measured with transient elastography. Improvements in the device, such as smaller and variable region of interest of measurement and real-time B-mode display, may ensure wider clinical application.
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Project description:BackgroundHepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) is the gold standard index for evaluating portal hypertension; however, measuring HVPG is invasive. Although transient elastography (TE) is the most common procedure for evaluating organ stiffness, accurate measurement of spleen stiffness (SS) is difficult. We developed a device to demonstrate the diagnostic precision of TE and suggest this technique as a valuable new method to measure SS.MethodsOf 292 consecutive patients enrolled in this single-centre, translational, cross-sectional study from June through September in 2019, 200 underwent SS measurement (SSM) using an M probe (training set, n = 130; inspection set, n = 70). We performed TE with B-mode imaging using an ultrasound-fusion method, printed new devices with a three-dimensional printer, and attached the magnetic position sensor to the convex and M probes. We evaluated the diagnostic precision of TE to evaluate the risk of esophagogastric varices (EGVs).ResultsThe median spleen volume was 245 mL (range, 64-1,720 mL), and it took 2 minutes to acquire a B-mode image using the ultrasound-fusion method. The median success rates of TE were 83.3% and 57.6% in patients with and without the new device, respectively (p<0.001); it was 76.9% and 35.0% in patients with and without splenomegaly (<100 mL), respectively (p<0.001). In the prediction of EGVs, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve were 0.921 and 0.858 in patients with and without the new device, respectively (p = 0.043). When the new device was attached, the positive and negative likelihood ratios were 3.44 and 0.11, respectively. The cut-off value of SSM was 46.0 kPa. Data that were similar between the validation and training sets were obtained.ConclusionsThe SS can be precisely measured using this new device with TE and ultrasound-fusion method. Similarly, we can estimate the bleeding risk due to EGV using this method.
| S-EPMC7861355 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Background & aimsVibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) is a non-invasive tool for detecting hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in patients who have not received liver transplants. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of VCTE in detection of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in patients who have undergone liver transplantation.MethodsWe performed a prospective study of 99 liver transplant recipients assessed by VCTE using a standard protocol. Controlled attenuation parameter cutoff values for pairwise steatosis grade and liver stiffness measurements (LSM) and cutoff values for pairwise fibrosis stage were determined using cross-validated area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) curve analyses. We calculated sensitivity (fixed at 90%) and specificity (fixed at 90%) values.ResultsA controlled attenuation parameter cutoff value of 270 dB/m detected any hepatic steatosis with an AUROC of 0.88 (95% CI, 0.78-0.93). VCTE detected steatosis grades 2-3 vs 0-1 with an AUROC of 0.94 (95% CI, 0.89-0.99) and steatosis grade 3 vs 0-2 was similar and AUROC of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.83-0.96). When we used an LSM cutoff value of 10.5 kPa, VCTE identified patients with advanced fibrosis (fibrosis stages ≥ 3) with an AUROC of 0.94 (95% CI, 0.88-0.99). At fixed sensitivity, the cutoff LSM value of 10.5k Pa excluded advanced fibrosis with a negative predictive value of 0.99. At fixed specificity, the cutoff LSM value of 16.9 kPa detected advanced fibrosis with a sensitivity of 0.86, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.40, and a negative predictive value of 0.99.ConclusionsVCTE accurately detects hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in recipients of liver transplants. This non-invasive method might be used to identify patients in need of confirmatory liver biopsy analysis.
| S-EPMC7541402 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Background and aimsLiver stiffness (LS) and spleen stiffness (SS) are two most widely accessible non-invasive parameters for predicting esophageal varices (EV), but the reported accuracy of the two predictors have been inconsistent across studies. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of LS and SS measurement for detecting EV in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD), and compare their accuracy.MethodsPubmed/Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library and Ovid were searched for all studies assessing SS and LS simultaneously in EV diagnosis. A total of 16 studies including 1892 patients were included in this meta-analysis, and the pooled statistical parameters were calculated using the bivariate mixed effects models.ResultsIn detection of any EV, for LS measurement, the summary sensitivity was 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.78-0.87), and the specificity was 0.66 (95% CI: 0.60-0.72). While for SS measurement, the pooled sensitivity and specificity was 0.88 (95% CI: 0.83-0.92) and 0.78 (95% CI: 0.73-0.83). The summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve values of LS and SS were 0.81 (95% CI: 0.77-0.84) and 0.88 (95% CI: 0.85-0.91) respectively, and the results had statistical significance (P<0.01). The diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of SS (25.73) was significantly higher than that of LS (9.54), with the relative DOR value was 2.48 (95%CI: 1.10-5.60), P<0.05.ConclusionsUnder current techniques, SS is significantly superior to LS for identifying the presence of EV in patients with CLD. SS measurement may help to select patients for endoscopic screening.
| S-EPMC5102398 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Background and aimsPediatric use of liver transient elastography (TE) is attractive for its non-invasiveness, but reference values have not been established. We aimed to determine reference values for TE in children.MethodsIn pediatric patients (1 to 18 years), TE (FibroScan®) with an M probe was used for both liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and measurement of hepatic fat deposition by using a controlled attenuation parameter (CAP). The patients were divided into three relevant age groups: preschoolers (1 to 5 years), elementary school children (6 to 11 years), and adolescents (12 to 18 years). Overweight or obese patients or those with known liver disease, elevated serum liver enzymes, or hepatic echogenic abnormality were excluded from the study.ResultsAmong 139 children, 123 (88.5%; 62 male; median age, 11.7 years; age range, 1.3 to 17.2 years) were successfully subjected to M-probe TE without anesthesia. Median LSM increased with age: it was 3.4 kPa (2.3 to 4.6 kPa, 5th to 95th percentiles) at ages 1 to 5 years; 3.8 (2.5 to 6.1) kPa at ages 6 to 11; and 4.1 (3.3 to 7.9) kPa at ages 12 to 18 (P = 0.001). Median CAP was not age dependent: it was 183 (112 to 242) for ages 1 to 18 years.ConclusionsM-probe TE is suitable in a wide age range of children from age 1 year up. In children without evidence of liver disease, LSM has an age-dependent increase, whereas CAP does not differ between ages 1 and 18.
| S-EPMC5115769 | biostudies-literature